Public Protector

The Office of the Public Protector is an external state institution of the Republic of South Africa, tasked with the investigation of misconduct in any state affairs and all spheres of government including that of public administration in the country. It is one of the Chapter nine institutions independent of the Government.

The office was established by the Constitution to support constitutional democracy in the country.

The Public Protector, since October 2009, is former Law Reform Commissioner and advocate, Thuli Madonsela. She succeeded Lawrence Mushwana, who took office on 15 October 2002. Selby Baqwa, Mushwana's predecessor, was the first person to hold that office from its inception in 1995. Similar to other Chapter Nine Institutions, the Public Protector serves to mainly protect the public's interest and fundamental human rights

The office of the Public protector has been faced with harsh criticism by parliament specifically by the majority party for requesting an increase of R200m in the budget allocation for additional resources. With the justice portfolio committee chairman Mathole Motshekga being critical of the budget and strategic presentation presented by Adv. Thuli Madonsela.