The parliament's third bid to find Public Protector Selby Baqwa's successor hit another snag at the weekend, when advertisements appearing in Sunday newspapers gave the wrong closing date for applications for the independent watchdog post.

The parliament's ad hoc committee on the appointment of a public protector has battled to attract sufficient nominations for the post since it was established in June.

After receiving only seven nominations after its original advertisements in weekend newspapers, it re-advertised the post and received only 10 more.

It held public hearings last month, but three of the front-runners, Land Claims Court Judge Bakone Moloto, former Northern Province MEC Seth Nthai and Western Cape Justice Department head Mr Hisamodien Mohamed, withdrew their nominations after they were short-listed.

The committee recommended the post be re-advertised in a range of professional publications "to elicit a greater response from suitably qualified persons, including women".

Baqwa's seven-year term of service expires at the end of September. He will then join banking-group Nedcor.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and The Mercury.