Public Protector and Minister of Justice meet

Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane on Monday held talks with the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Hon. Michael Masutha, in a meeting that saw the two exploring the enhancements of access to the services of the Public Protector, cooperation and compliance with investigations and remedial action of the institution.

Among the important matters discussed during the meeting was the proposed use of Magistrate Courts as a quick and more accessible way of expanding the footprint of the services offered by the Public Protector to the public throughout the country. Currently, the Public Protector uses only 19 offices across the country to serve communities.

Adv. Mkhwebane also pointed out to the Minister the high volume of complaints her office receives against the Justice Department and urged the Minister to strengthen the complaints and dispute resolution mechanisms within the Department in order to reduce the volume.

The Public Protector receives hundreds of complaints annually concerning, among other things, alleged undue delays in processing applications for appeals and the production of court records.

Minister Masutha undertook to raise with government the proposal to develop a framework for cooperation and compliance with the Public Protector investigations and remedial action in order to give support as well as the processes of all other institutions established under Chapter 9 of the Constitution by all government departments.

For more information, contact:

Oupa Segalwe
Senior Manager: Communications
Public Protector South Africa
Cell: 072 264 3273
Tel: 012 366 7035
Email: Oupas@pprotect.org
www.publicprotector.org

And

Adv Mthunzi Mhaga
Ministerial Spokesperson:
Department of Justice
Cell: 083 641 8141
Tel: 012 406 4660
Email: MMhaga@justice.gov.za