The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development will strengthen its relationship with the Office of the Public Protector to help in the implementation of its recommendations.
Addressing the Committee today, the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, told of how organs of state continue to pose a problem to her office by not providing speedy and comprehensive answers to complaints.
“For some (organs of state) no response is given until a threat of subpoena is included in a letter signed by the Public Protector,” said Madonsela adding that the implementation of reports was also not satisfactory.
“While a few organs of state have implemented reports without question or delay a growing number takes its time,” said Madonsela.
Committee chairperson Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi said strengthening relations between Parliament and the Office of the Public Protector “would help in ensuring that the Office of the Public Protector gets to be respected more”.
Mr Ramatlhodi said there was a need to look into the budget of the Public Protector to ensure that it is sufficient to meet its mandate. Madonsela told the Committee that the scope and complexity of cases her office was dealing with had increased whereas the capacity has remained the same.
She said in the meantime her office was collaborating with other agencies, for example, the Auditor General, the Special Investigations Unit and others where necessary to overcome capacity concerns.
Mr Ramatlhodi said the Committee will consider using the October mid-term budget review process to recommend that the budget of the Public Protector’s office be realigned to the Office’s priority programmes.
He said this was necessary to ensure that the budget is in line with the programme of the office to enable it to deliver on its mandate.
