Public Protector meets with
minority parties
Thursday,
21 July 2011
Minority parties have thrown their weight behind Public
Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela, indicating that they were
pleased with the way she has been discharging her
constitutional mandate.
This follows her meeting on Thursday afternoon with Inkanta
Freedom Party, Freedom Front +, United Democratic Movement,
Congress of the People, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania
and Azanian People’s Organisation.
The United Christian Democratic Party had confirmed
attendance but was not present at the meeting held at the
Public Protector’s Cape Town office. The Public Protector
had earlier in the day met with the Democratic Alliance.
During the meeting, the parities agreed that the Public
Protector plays an important role in helping ordinary people
access justice and that the implementation of remedial
action was critical to the advancement of administrative
justice.
The parties felt strongly that what was expected from the
Public Protector should not be dependent of the incumbent
but rather be informed by the constitutional mandate and the
integrity of the institution.
They also raised concerns around the allocation of budget to
the Public Protector. They felt that funding for the
institution should come from a neutral source such as
Parliament rather than the Department of Justice and
Constitutional Development as it is currently. In this
regard, they have undertaken to push for a review of
relevant legislation to address the concern.
The parties also highlighted the need for increased funding
for the Public Protector’s Outreach, Education and
Communications programme in order to boost the visibility
and accessibility of the institution to communities.
The meeting formed part of a two-month nationwide
stakeholder consultative forum launched last week under the
theme “The Public Protector Dialogues with the Nation.”
Aimed at soliciting feedback regarding the work of the
Public Protector and foster a common understanding of the
institution’s mandate and role, the programme focuses on the
importance of implementing the Public Protector’s remedial
action.
This is for purposes of ensuring administrative justice by
organs of state in respect of the state’s dealings with the
public and promoting accountability within state affairs in
cases of conduct failure.
For more information, contact:
Kgalalelo Masibi
Senior Manager: Outreach, Education and Communications
Tel: (012) 366 7006
Cell: 079 507 0399
Email:
kgalalelom@pprotect.org
www.publicprotector.org
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