Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela will next week take her National Stakeholder Consultative Dialogue to residents of the Free State, with meetings scheduled to take place in Bloemfontein and Kroonstad.
The programme has already seen the Public Protector interfacing with a varied network of stakeholders including government leaders, civil society organisations and ordinary members of the public in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Held under the theme, "Joining hands to end maladministration and ensure responsive service delivery: Focus on RDP houses and regulatory gaps on the illegal conversion of panel vans into taxis," the events combine the dialogue, now in its third year, with public hearings where stakeholders share their experiences on problems surrounding RDP houses and the converted taxis.
Complainants, who wish to bring other matters to the attention of the Public Protector, will be welcome to do so provided that their matters affect a group or community.
While individual complainants, whose grievances focus on other aspects of service delivery will not be turned away, it must be noted that such complaints will not be given first preference during the sessions. There will be a Public Protector stall outside the venues, where more of such complaints can be lodged.
The Public Protector will interface with organised stakeholder grouping that includes provincial executives, government officials, political parties, civil society and experts during a formal stakeholder at the Provincial Legislature in Bloemfontein.
This will be followed by an outreach event at the Constantia Hall in Kroonstad, where the Public Protector and her team will dialogue with community members on issues relating to RDP houses and the illegal conversion of panel vans into taxis.
The issues to be addressed at both events emanate from ongoing systemic investigations into RDP housing problems and regulatory gaps in the illegal conversion of panel vans into taxis. They include waiting lists, procurement concerns, quality of homes, conveyance arrangements, sale of RDP homes, allegations of corruption, regulatory framework and accountability for challenges such as safety and passenger insurance.
The campaign is also in line with the constitutional injunction that the Public Protector should be accessible to all persons and communities.
The organised stakeholder meeting will be held as follows:
Date: Monday, 30 July 2012
Time: 09h30
Venue: Provincial Legislature, Bloemfontein
The outreach event will be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Time: 10h00
Venue: Mphohadi FET College Hall
Media is invited to cover both events.
Those who wish to attend can confirm with:
Oupa Segalwe
Cell: 072 264 3273
E-mail: oupas@pprotect.org
Salvation Mokgatlhe
Cell: 079 031 5589
E-mail: salvationm@pprotect.org
For more information, contact:
Kgalalelo Masibi, Spokesperson, Public Protector South Africa
Cell: 079 507 0399
Tel: 012 366 7006
E-mail: kgalalelom@pprotect.org
