Address by Public Protector Adv Thuli
Madonsela on the occasion of a stakeholder consultative
forum at Flamingo Casino in Kimberley, Northern Cape
22 February 2010
Programme Director,
Judge President Diale Kgomo,
Deputy Public Protector Mamiki Shai,
Provincial Electoral Officer Mr J Bekebeke,
Commissioner for the Commission of Gender Equality Ms Meruti,
Executive Mayor of Frances Baard District Municipality Mr A
Florence,
Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatjie Municipality Mr P Everyday,
Mayor of Magareng Municipality Mrs G Makena,
Mayor of Phokwane Municipality Mr V Khen,
Head of Department for the Department of Corporate and
Government Affairs, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs
Mr B Swartland,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen;
Allow me to seize this moment and extend my warmest
greetings to all of you for having heeded our call to gather
here this morning. We are grateful for the fact that you
found space in your busy schedules to slot us in.
That you found time to be with us despite this being one of
the busiest times for most organisations as they prepare for
the financial year that lies ahead is an indication that
this engagement is as important to you as it is to us.
In the same vein I would like to emphasise the point that
we, at Public Protector South Africa, consider engagements
of this nature extremely critical and central to the course
of fully delivering on our mandate.
I am sure you would have noticed from recent media reports
that the Public Protector has, since the early this month,
embarked on a seven-week national road show, during which we
meet with stakeholders with an aim to jointly path the way
this institution will take over the next few years. Well,
today is Northern Cape’s turn.
In a nutshell, the objectives of this exercise are to
introduce myself to you as the newly-appointed Public
Protector and engage you on the proposed Public Protector
Vision 2020 with the aim of soliciting your comments and
inputs. I will expand on this later in my speech.
Through these meetings ladies and gentlemen, we further aim
to build trust, maintain good relations and establish what
your expectations are regarding the responsiveness of the
Public Protector, among other things.
Programme Director, I am aware that most if not all of the
people in here know what is a Public Protector and the role
thereof. However, allow me to briefly give some background
about this institution for the benefit of those who may not
be aware.
The Public Protector is one of the institutions established
in terms of Chapter Nine of the Constitution of the Republic
of South Africa. This institution receives and resolves
complaints from the public regarding conduct and services by
state organs and officials.
Empowered to investigate, mediate, negotiate, conciliate and
take corrective action, the Public Protector exists to
ensure that there is an accountable and responsive public
administration in South Africa.
The Public Protector is independent of government and
political parties and therefore we carry out our
responsibilities impartially without fear, favour or
prejudice.
Even though the Public Protector receives complaints from
the public, it should be eloquently communicated that this
institution is not an attorney for the public. We are more
like a referee who looks at both sides of the problem to
ensure accountable and fair governance by the state.
In other words, should our investigations reveal no wrong
doing on the part of state organs or officials; we will say
so in that same way we do when the opposite is the case.
Ladies and gentlemen;
As the Public Protector, one of our biggest challenges is
lack co-operation from government departments in terms of
responding to queries as we carry out our investigations.
I’m glad to announce that in this province, co-operation
from state organs is generally satisfactory. We have seen a
significant improvement from the likes of SASSA, Human
Settlements and the Sol Plaatjie Municipality. However, more
still needs to done. Plans are afoot to hold meetings with
heads of the few departments that are still problematic with
a view to sort out the challenges.
Most of the complaints we get in this province relate to
municipal service. The fact that local government is located
at the coal face of the provision of basic services such
water and housing illustrates the urgency of attending to
bottlenecks that hold back delivery.
History teaches us that, even though we strongly condemn it,
communities embark on violent protests whenever government
does not deliver on its responsibilities.
The Chapter Nine and Associates Forum which was launched in
Kuruman nearly 12 months ago is a step in the right
direction. This is a forum in which all members pledge to
work together and support each other on their
responsibilities to achieve a common goal.
To date, we have signed Memorandums of Understanding with
four institutions including the SA Human Rights Commission,
the Commission of Gender Equality and the Independent
Electoral Commission. More are yet to sign on the dotted
line and we encourage them to do so.
Programme Director,
The Public Protector Vision 2020 I referred to earlier is
our proposed vision for the next ten years. I believe copies
of this document have been circulated to all of you. We have
already received valuable feedback on the draft we
circulated to some stakeholders December 2009. I would
really appreciate your comments on it. It reads as follows:
Vision
A trusted, effective and accessible Public Protector that
rights wrongs and consistently acts with integrity to ensure
fair, accountable and responsive decision-making, service
and good governance in all state affairs and public
administration in any sphere of government.
Mission
We serve the public in accordance with our constitutional
mandate by rectifying and redressing any improper or
prejudicial conduct in state affairs and resolving related
disputes through mediation, conciliation, negotiation and
other measures to ensure fair, responsive and accountable
public sector decision-making and service delivery.
Values
- Independence and impartiality;
- Human Dignity;
- Equality;
- Ubuntu and Empathy;
- Redress;
- Accountability;
- Integrity;
- Responsiveness;
- Transparency; and
- Justice and Fairness.
To complement these, we will be guided by three core
principles namely Accountability, Integrity and
Responsiveness.
We have also proposed strategic objectives for the next
three years as the mechanism for ensuring, among others,
prompt remedial action for all wrongs committed by public
authorities and that good governance generally is achieved
in the conduct of all state affairs.
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to
healthy yet robust discussions regarding the issues I have
mentioned in my address.
I trust that our effort will bear fruit by way of ensuring
accountability and a responsive service delivery in the
public sector for the benefit of the all persons in the
country.
I thank you.
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