Public Protector hampered by dire shortage of funds

Only Madonsela and two of her most senior staff have their own offices, and the only room available for private meetings is the kitchen. In the Public Protector's annual report, tabled in Parliament yesterday, the Auditor-General said liabilities exceeded assets by R38.9m. Madonsela's note said: 'This condition indicates the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the constitutional institution's ability to discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.' The report says in the 2013-14 financial year, the Public Protector received R199.2m from the Treasury. However, it overspent that by more than R26m due to the increasing costs of personnel and office accommodation. During the year the Public Protector handled 39 817 cases, more than 11 000 more than the 2012-13 year. Of those cases, 24 642 were finalised, 9 564 carried over to the current financial year, 3 040 were determined not to be in the Public Protector's jurisdiction and 3 072 were referred to other institutions. The Public Protector's office has 314 staff, including 100 trainee investigators. Madonsela reportedly told Business Day yesterday that she had invited members of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs to visit her offices and see the conditions under which her investigators worked. Full Business Day report (subscription needed)

Madonsela says the number of cases she deals with is disproportionate to the financial and human resources available to her office, notes a Beeld report. Some investigators handle up to 500 cases. She said the lack of resources caused delays in the finalisation of investigations and that this could lead to 'the erosion of public confidence in the institution'. Chief executive Themba Mthethwa warns in the report that the financing model of the Public Protector 'needs urgent attention'. Full Beeld report