PUBLIC PROTECTOR: PROVINCIAL OFFICE IN GAUTENG

22 November 2004

The Gauteng Provincial Office of the Public Protector will be launched today at Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg. The office, which will be operational as from 1 December 2004, is situated at the Women's Jail, Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg.

In terms of the Constitution, the Public Protector must be accessible to all persons and all communities. "Obviously, accessibility as required by section 182 (4), means physical accessibility," said the Public Protector, Adv Lawrence Mushwana. The establishment of provincial offices therefore forms part of the mandate of the Public Protector.

The establishment of this office in Gauteng is a significant milestone in the history of the Office of the Public Protector, as provincial offices now exist in all nine provinces. "The province was previously serviced by the National office in Pretoria but with the opening of this office in Johannesburg, we will be positioned to be of greater service to the people of this province. The launch of this office here today, is also symbolic of our support of the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse," said the Public Protector.

Enquiries: Nicolette Teichmann
Tel: (012) 322 1190
Cell: 082 333 5624