Public Protector takes Mqanduli concerns to Provincial Legislature

Concerns raised with the Public Protector by the community of Mqanduli and surrounding areas in the OR Tambo District Municipality in Eastern Cape last month will on Tuesday be brought to the attention of the Provincial Legislature. Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane is meeting the provincial lawmakers, the Executive and civil society representatives in Bisho. She visited Mqanduli in April as part of her nationwide stakeholder consultative forums. At the meeting, she was met with a host of concerns ranging from inadequate provision of electricity to residents, roads and mushrooming of illegal liquor outlets in the area.

The meeting forms part of the forums aimed at introducing Adv. Mkhwebane to stakeholders in the provinces as the country’s fourth Public Protector, to outline her vision for the office over the next seven years and grant them an opportunity to raise with her any matter of concern relating to her office and the work it does.

Since February Adv. Mkhwebane has visited over 13 rural villages, townships, towns, and metros, holding unmediated talks with various stakeholders in the areas.

Areas visited include Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, Mahikeng, Thohoyandou, Polokwane, Ermelo and Thaba Nchu, Mqanduli, Masiphumelele, Madibogo and Ngilanyoni.

Adv. Mkhwebane said she hopes to have had a meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, including government leaders, lawmakers, political parties, civil society and the general public at the conclusion of the roadshow next month.

“I have taken note of some of the concerns you have been expressing through various avenues, including social media and phone-in programmes on radio. I call on you to use these meetings as to engage me directly for answers,” Adv. Mkhwebane said.

Community members are afforded an opportunity to lodge service and conduct failure complaints for investigation during the engagements. A team of investigators has been accompanying the Public Protector for this purpose.

The engagements are held under the theme “Broadening Access: Taking the Public Protector to the Grassroots”.

Meeting with Provincial Executive

Address at the Legislature is scheduled as follows:

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

@PublicProtector
Public Protector South Africa