Lawrence Mushwana, Public Protector

The Public Protector's services are free and available to everyone. When you lay a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector, they will investigate the matter and if the complaint is justified, they will try to rectify the situation. The Public Protector handles complaints in a confidential manner.

The Public Protector can investigate government officials at any level, including national, provincial and local authorities and anyone who performs a public function such as:

• a state employee
• a policeman (you can also contact the ICD)
• an electoral officer
• parastatals, like Eskom or Telkom
• statutory councils, like the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) or the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The Public Protector is responsible for looking into complaints about:

• abuse of power
• unfair, erratic, discourteous or other improper conduct
• unjustifiable delays
• human rights violations (you can also approach the South African Human Rights Commission)
• maladministration
• dishonesty or improper dealings with respect to public money
• improper enrichment
• receipt of improper advantage.

The Public Protector does not investigate the following types of complaints:

• court judgments and sentences
• private acts by individuals
• private companies
• private doctors and lawyers.

If a prejudiced decision has been made by a government official affecting you, you should first:

• Speak to the official(s) involved, then
• Write to the person in charge of the official(s), then
• Approach your Member of the National or Provincial Parliament, then
• Write to the Public Protector.

If you write to the Public Protector you should include the following information:

• The nature of your complaint.
• The background to your complaint.
• Reasons why you feel your complaint should be investigated by the Public Protector.
• Steps you have taken to solve the problem yourself (if applicable). You should mention names of the officials you have been dealing with, on what dates, and what was said. Copies of any correspondence between you and the officials should be attached to your letter.
• A telephone number where you can be contacted, if you have one.
• In some instances the Public Protector may require a statement under oath before investigating.

If you are unsure whether your problem is something the Public Protector will investigate, or if you cannot write, you can phone the Public Protector's office. There are trained professional staff members who will listen to your complaint, big or small, and conduct investigations.

You could also visit the Office for an interview or a consultation, if you prefer. It is better to write first and ask for an interview in the letter.

Head Office
Private Bag X677, Pretoria, 0001
Hillcrest Office Park, 174 Lynnwood Road, Pretoria
Tel: 012 366 7000
Toll-free: 0800 112 040
Fax: 012 362 3473

Western Cape Provincial Office
138 Adderley Street, Cape Town
PO Box 712, Cape Town, 8000
Tel: 021 423 8644
Fax: 021 423 8708
shamielah@pprotect.pwv.gov.za

Any irregularities in the Western Cape Provincial Government can be reported to the Forensic Audit Component of the Provincial Administration. This includes instances of corruption, fraud, theft and misuse of government property.

Irregularities can be reported anonymously by telephone, post, fax or email to:
33 Church Street, 7th Floor, Wale Street Chambers
PO Box 659, Cape Town, 8000
Toll-free: 0801 226 545
Tel: 021 480 2080
Fax: 021 480 2096
rogle@pgwc.gov.za

In order to ensure that matters can be properly investigated, detailed information on the alleged irregularity is required. If you want to make a report, you should try to provide as much of the following information as possible:

The irregularity

• What is the nature of the irregularity (eg theft, corruption, fraud)?
• How and where did the irregularity occur?
• Is this an ongoing problem and for how long it has been occurring?
• Do you have any proof or evidence regarding the irregularity? For example, in the case of theft, do you know where the stolen goods are being stored?
• Does anyone else have knowledge of the irregularity and would they be willing to provide information to the investigating officers?
• Can you assign a monetary value to the irregularity?

The suspected officials

• What are the suspected government officials names, which Departments do they work in and what are their posts?
• What are the names of any other individuals involved?
• Have the suspected officials been involved in other irregularities before?

• Have you reported this before? If so, to whom and what follow-up action was taken?
• Did you witnessed the irregularity, or if not, how did you found out about it?
• Are you willing to compile an affidavit and testify?