Public Protector attributes hunger to maladministration

Public Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela on Tuesday attributed the hunger experienced by many South African households partly to the scourge of maladministration in state affairs.

Speaking on the eve of World Hunger Day at Gracepoint Church in Johannesburg, the Public Protector said there was a link between maladministration and hunger.

She told the congregation that Section 27 of the Constitution guaranteed everyone the right to access to sufficient food.

“This right is violated by government maladministration daily through acts such as apathy or indifference in service delivery and looting of state resources meant for funding public services,” the Public Protector said.

She said corruption and other forms of gross maladministration or bad governance were also a violation of the right to sufficient food.

The Public Protector added that such acts robbed the people of the opportunity to have the quality of their lives improved and their full potential freed in pursuit of the constitutional promise.

According to the latest South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES), only 45.6% of South Africa households were food secure. About 28.3% were at the risk of hunger while 26% were experiencing hunger.

The Public Protector was invited to take part in the church’s Change Movement Programme, which focused on compassion and justice.

The Pastors, led by Bishop Paul Verryn and Rev. Gary Rival, prayed for the Public Protector and her office.

The Public Protector thanked the faith community for their continuous support of her office and South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

For more information, contact:

Kgalalelo Masibi
Spokesperson: Public Protector South Africa
(012) 366 7006
079 507 0399
kgalalelom@pprotect.org
www.publicprotector.org