Public Protector asks for R884m

THE PUBLIC Protector’s Office has asked for additional funding amounting to more than R884 million from Treasury for the next three years.

The figure has been reduced from the R1 billion the institution requested to stay afloat when it tabled its budget earlier this year.

Briefing the justice and correctional services portfolio committee yesterday, Public Protector Busi Mkhwebane said the institution’s organisational structure was inadequately funded and they needed to establish an internal audit unit, among other things.

The cost of the envisaged internal audit unit will be R3.5m compared to the R1.4m currently spent on outsourcing the function.

“We made (a) submission to National Treasury to assist in that aspect,” Mkhwebane said.

“We depend on the committee and Parliament to motivate and assist to acquire more funding.”

Chief executive Themba Dlamini said the institution has 707 posts in their organogram and only 392 posts were presently funded.

“The office requires an additional funding of R746 474 926 over the medium term to fully fund the organisational structure. It is imperative that Public Protector of South Africa (PPSA) be funded properly in order to execute its constitutional mandate.”

A total of R26m in additional funding would be spent on their case management system and R18m on litigation, amid the growing number of their reports being taken on judicial review.

About R7.5m has been requested for video conferencing facilities, R9m for integrated telephone system and a call centre, as well as R31m for subject matter experts.

Dlamini also said R19m was requested to beef up security at their offices.

“It should be noted that PPSA deals with sensitive cases and investigations, which requires safekeeping and security of information.