Public Protector

Office of the Public Protector (OPP)
National Institution overview
Formed1 October 1995; 29 years ago (1995-10-01)[1]
Preceding National Institution
  • The Office of the Ombudsman[2]
TypeChapter nine institution
JurisdictionGovernment
Headquarters175 Lunnon Street, Hillcrest Office Park, 0083, Pretoria, South Africa
25°45′28″S 28°14′26″E / 25.757869°S 28.240425°E / -25.757869; 28.240425
Annual budgetR362.714 million 2021–22[3]
National Institution executive
Parent National InstitutionNone (independent)
Key documents
  • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996[4]
  • Public Protector Act 23 of 1994[5]
  • Executive Members Ethics Act 82 of 1998[6]
  • Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA)[7]
  • Electoral Commission Act 51 of 1996[8]
  • Special Investigation Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996[9]
Websitewww.pprotect.org
Map
Map

The Public Protector in South Africa is one of six independent state institutions set up by the country's Constitution to support and defend democracy.

According to Section 181[10] of the Constitution:

  • These institutions are independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law. According to the Constitution, they must be impartial and must exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice.
  • Other organs of state, through legislative and other measures, must assist and protect these institutions to ensure the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of these institutions.
  • No person or organ of state may interfere with the functioning of these institutions.
  • These institutions are accountable to the National Assembly, and must report on their activities and the performance of their functions to the Assembly at least once a year.
  1. ^ A brief history of the office Archived 29 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "History of The office of the Public Protector 1995".
  3. ^ Public Protector 2021/22 (PDF). Public Protector. 2022. p. 12. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ^ Constitution of the Republic of South Africa
  5. ^ Public Protector Act
  6. ^ Executive Members Ethics Act
  7. ^ Promotion of Access to Information Act
  8. ^ Electoral Commission Act
  9. ^ Special Investigation Units and Special Tribunals Act Archived 22 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 – Chapter 9: State institutions supporting constitutional democracy". South African Government Information. Retrieved 24 November 2017.