Public Protector to give feedback on Pampierstad complaints soon

Residents of Pampierstad township in the Northern Cape can expect to hear from Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela in three months following service delivery complaints they raised at a community outreach meeting with her on Tuesday.

Complaints over poor provision of basic services such social housing, sanitation, water, electricity; security, health care matters and lack of development were in the majority when residents interacted with the Public Protector at a local community hall.

Other issues raised included stalling development projects, absence of recreational facilities and sub-standard workmanship relating to the construction of ‘RDP’ houses. Locals also leveled allegations of corruption against provincial education department and the Phokoane Local Municipality. These related to learner transport and school feeding schemes; and construction tenders respectively.

“We have heard the people’s grievances and obviously we cannot prejudge the cases. We will work with individual complainants during investigations and revert back to report to the community before the end of November,” said the Public Protector.

She appealed to communities to trust her office with their service and conduct failure complaints in order to help ensure accountability by those who exercise public power and have control over state resources.

The Public Protector further called on communities and organs of state to cooperate in the investigation processes to ensure that her office finds the truth and to strengthen as well as to sustain people’s faith in democratic institutions and processes.

Speaking at the event, Mayor of Phokwane Local Municipality Vuyisile Khen assured residents to organise local meetings to look into the service delivery matters raised. He encouraged community members with allegations of corruption against his office to come forward with evidence and bring such complaints to the attention of the Public Protector.

The meeting formed part of stakeholder consultative forums launched in July under the theme “The Public Protector Dialogues with the Nation”, which seek to solicit feedback on the services of the Public Protector, foster a common understanding of the institution’s mandate and role and highlight the importance of implementing the Public Protector’s remedial action.

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