It is in the interest of everybody in South Africa to see to it that the office of the Public Protector (PP) is allowed to continue with its important work without any interference, says Wouter Wessels, spokesperson of the FF Plus.
Wessels says that the PP has to date, currently Adv. Thuli Madonsela, shown that she is prepared to do her work without fear or favour in a governmental environment which is increasingly characterised by maladministration and corruption.
“The tremendous pressure which is being placed on Madonsela from the side of government with the Nkandla investigation, has made the FF Plus decide to start a campaign to make all South Africans aware of the importance of ensuring the office’s independence.
“A facebook page, facebook.com/protectpublicprotector, as well as a webpage, www.protectpublicprotector.org.za has been created for this purpose. A twitter account, www.twitter.com/Protect_Protect was also opened,” says Wessels.
He says the Public Protector is one of the institutions which had been established in terms of the South African Constitution with the sole purpose of protecting the constitutional democracy of the country.
Chapter 9.181 (2), (3) and (4) amongst others stipulates:
(2) These institutions are independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law, and they must be impartial and must exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour and prejudice.
(3) Other organs of state, through the legislative and other means, must assist and protect these institutions to ensure the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of these institutions.
(4) No person or organ of state may interfere with the functioning of these institutions.
Wessels says in the light of the confirmation by Adv. Madonsela that cabinet ministers and even state legal advisors had tried to force her to give up the investigation into Nkandla – actions which are in itself unconstitutional – it is now becoming clear how huge the pressure on the office of the PP is to shut its eyes to irregularities of the state.
“It is the objective of the FF Plus’ campaign to, as a nation, show our support for Adv. Madonsela and in so doing offer her assistance to continue with her good work.
“The PP’s office is in more than one way one of the public’s last defences against a government which is not prepared to be accountable for its actions. Support us in our campaign. It is in the interest of every right thinking person in South Africa,” Wessels says.
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