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EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu. Picture: Lucky Nxumalo
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has asked Parliament for less money than what her office needs for service delivery.
Madonsela asked for R263.3 million, but she needs almost R115 million more than that for “optimum service delivery”.
Presenting her budget to the justice committee in what might be her final appearance before Parliament before the end of her term in October, the Public Protector pleaded for more funds.
With the extra money, her office would be able to get funding for additional regional offices, and use about R54 million for a case management system and security, she told the committee today.
They would also have increased capacity, especially interns and trainee investigators.
The committee heard that the bulk of the budget for the year – about R183.4 million – would go towards investigations.
Opposition party members of Parliament, including the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Floyd Shivambu, stressed the need for the Office of the Public Protector to be supported financially.
Shivambu said to protect the poor, the Public Protector’s office needed to be available at sub-district levels.
“I think we might possibly need as the committee to involve the finance committee, to deal much more substantially with the funding of the Public Protector’s office,” he said.
The African Christian Democratic Party’s Steve Swart agreed.
Committee chairperson, Mathole Motshekga, thanked her for her presentation and said the committee would look at her requests.
While the Public Protector had previously faced a hostile reception from ruling party MPs at committee meetings, they were more welcoming this time around.
Madonsela said after the briefing that while she always expected the best, she and her team prepared for the worst. – News24
