SOUTH AFRICA | Public Protector to sign agreement with Gauteng Premier as part of stakeholder roadshow

The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) and the Gauteng Provincial Government are set to enter into an agreement aimed at ensuring that requests for investigation-related information, among other things, are responded promptly to expedite investigative processes.

Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane and Premier David Makhura will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of a PPSA Stakeholder Roadshow meeting at the City of Tshwane offices in Pretoria on Friday.

Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Legislature Hon. Nomvuyo Mahlakaza-Manamela and Deputy Public Protector, Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka will be in attendance.

The failure to respond and tardy or inadequate responses to allegations and requests for documents as part of investigations is one of the leading challenges that hamper PPSA investigations. Adv. Mkhwebane has been vocal about the issue in the roadshow engagements held since mid-February in the Free State, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Western Cape and Limpopo.

In terms of Section 181(3) of the Constitution, other organs of state, through legislative and other measures, must assist and protect the PPSA to ensure its independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness. Ahead of putting pen to paper with Premier Makhura, Adv. Mkhwebane will paint a detailed picture of the state of governance in the province as told through investigations — both ongoing and finalised.

Where investigation reports have been issued but the implementation of the remedial action remains outstanding and has not been challenged in court, leaving complainants in the lurch, she will bring the specific details to Hon. Mahlakaza-Manamela’s attention, with view to requesting the invocation of section 114 of the Constitution. City of Tshwane Council Speaker Cllr. Murunwa Makwarela will host the meeting.

Other attendees include Members of the Executive Council, the City Manager (Tshwane), the Provincial Government Director-General, Heads of Department and the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. Adv. Mkhwebane and Adv. Gcaleka will later tour and inspect service delivery problem areas in Majaneng near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria.

Source: Office of the Public Protector, South Africa