Advocate Thuli Madonsela on Thursday presented her seventh and final strategic review plan as Public Protector to parliament’s justice portfolio committee.
She told MPs her office aligned itself with National Development Plan imperatives‚ which identified the Public Protector as one of the key institutions in fighting corruption.
“We need to respond to impatient community cries for social justice and systemic service delivery challenges‚” Madonsela said‚ as quoted by the Public Protector’s Twitter account.
Requesting a R263.3 million budget for 2016/17 and the institution’s strategic review plan for the period 2016 to 2021‚ Madonsela indicated the office needed an even bigger allocation.
An inadequate budget results in the inability to finalise investigations with the required speed and within set turnaround times‚ MPs heard.
The protector’s office would like additional permanent investigators‚ due to the heavy case load.
The budget request for the new financial year amount excludes the approximately R20 million the Protector’s office would like for funding of additional regional offices. Madonsela’s team cited lack of physical access to the offices of the Public Protector‚ particularly for rural communities‚ as an emerging risk.
The office would also like approximately R54 million for funding of electronic case management system and security.
Additional funding for a trainee investigator programme is also in the wish list.
The protector’s office was allocated R217.6 million 2014/15‚ and R246.1 million the year after that. Madonsela has been appealing for extra funding for some time. Last year‚ the public protector’s office noted that more than 5‚000 cases had to be carried over to the new financial year due to delays in finalising them as a result of a shortage of staff.
- There are currently 18 review cases on hand since the appellate division clarified the powers of the Public Protector‚ the office disclosed.
Madonsela asked government departments and state entities to engage with her office first before taking her reports on review‚ as increased legal reviews – with State entities taking the Public Protector to court — resulted in an increased financial burden.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela presents R263.3 million budget
She told MPs her office aligned itself with National Development Plan imperatives‚ which identified the Public Protector as one of the key institutions in fighting corruption.
“We need to respond to impatient community cries for social justice and systemic service delivery challenges‚” Madonsela said‚ as quoted by the Public Protector’s Twitter account.
Requesting a R263.3 million budget for 2016/17 and the institution’s strategic review plan for the period 2016 to 2021‚ Madonsela indicated the office needed an even bigger allocation.
An inadequate budget results in the inability to finalise investigations with the required speed and within set turnaround times‚ MPs heard.
The protector’s office would like additional permanent investigators‚ due to the heavy case load.
The budget request for the new financial year amount excludes the approximately R20 million the Protector’s office would like for funding of additional regional offices. Madonsela’s team cited lack of physical access to the offices of the Public Protector‚ particularly for rural communities‚ as an emerging risk.
The office would also like approximately R54 million for funding of electronic case management system and security.
Additional funding for a trainee investigator programme is also in the wish list.
The protector’s office was allocated R217.6 million 2014/15‚ and R246.1 million the year after that. Madonsela has been appealing for extra funding for some time. Last year‚ the public protector’s office noted that more than 5‚000 cases had to be carried over to the new financial year due to delays in finalising them as a result of a shortage of staff.
- There are currently 18 review cases on hand since the appellate division clarified the powers of the Public Protector‚ the office disclosed.
Madonsela asked government departments and state entities to engage with her office first before taking her reports on review‚ as increased legal reviews – with State entities taking the Public Protector to court — resulted in an increased financial burden.
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