South African History Online

Speech by President Mandela at the African regional workshop of the International Ombudsman Institution

Pretoria, 26 August 1996.

President of the International Ombudsman Institution;
Public Protectors
and Ombudsmen;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I must begin by making a confession. When I first heard of the invitation to
this conference, I was quite concerned. I wondered what I had done that had not
only incurred the wrath of our own Public Protector's Office but had also
brought the entire international community of such offices to summon me here.
You can imagine my relief, this morning, on seeing the programme of this event.

It is truly a privilege to welcome such a large gathering of distinguished
people from all over the world at this historic meeting. Today marks a milestone
for our nation and its Office of the Public Protector. Your presence is a sign
that we are moving in the right direction, confirming that we have at last taken
our place among the nations of the world striving to uphold good governance and
entrench democratic practices.

To reach the point of staging this workshop has required the joint
co-operation of government and other organisations with the Office of the Public
Protector. They have worked hand in hand with our international partners, in
particular, the International Ombudsman Institute, the Commonwealth and the
United Nations Development Programme.

Just over two years ago, on the inauguration of a democratic government in
South Africa, we pledged that our land would never again experience oppression
and domination. We knew the daunting task of building peace, prosperity,
non-racialism and non-sexism required that a culture of democracy should take
root in a society accustomed to violent discrimination and autocracy.

We were mindful from the very start of the importance of accountability to
democracy. Our experience had made us acutely aware of the possible dangers of a
government that is neither transparent nor accountable. To this end our
Constitution contains several mechanisms to ensure that government will not be
part of the problem; but part of the solution.

Public awareness and participation in maintaining efficiency in Government
within the context of human rights are vital to making a reality of democracy.
Many South Africans can still recall a time when the face of the Public Service
was hostile, and a complaint could lead to victimisation or harassment; when
access to justice seemed an unrealistic dream. In the new South Africa the face
of the public Service is changing radically.

However, we are not yet out of the woods; much still needs to be done in
terms of transformation. In this sense, therefore, our Public Protector's Office
is not only a critical instrument for good governance. It also occupies a
central place in the transformation of the public service by, among other means,
rooting out the arrogance, secrecy and corruption so rampant during the
apartheid years.

One current instance of this is the decision by our Ministry of Justice to
assist in rooting out the problem of disappearance of dockets and other forms of
corruption in the criminal justice system, a scourge which has hampered the
campaign against crime. As such, we have come to appreciate that the Public
Protector may require much more resources than we had originally envisaged.

Chairperson and delegates;

We all know that, for this Office to succeed, it is the ordinary citizens who
should take responsibility for enforcing good governance.

People must be encouraged to speak out against maladministration with the
surety that their complaints will be taken seriously and in confidence. Every
citizen needs to be familiar with their obligations and duties. They must be
able to claim the right to be treated justly, promptly and courteously, and to
claim their due under the law. Only then will we be able to ensure that
government is dedicated to public service and a culture of efficiency and
transparency.

In this regard, it is the duty of government and the institution which you
represent to educate citizens about their rights and obligations; to encourage
the forthrightness that will help transform the state from a colossus to be
feared, into a public servant to be employed to build a better life.

In its short existence, the Office of our Public Protector has been greeted
with enthusiasm; and it has established its credibility across the spectrum.

This gathering then is both a celebration of the empowerment of ordinary
citizens, and an exercise in further empowering their agents for good
government.

Every one of you here today is entrusted with the very important task of
serving the citizens of your countries with diligence. It is thus incumbent upon
you to expose every wrong you find committed in the public administration,
without fear or favour. This means that the role of ombudsman is sometimes a
lonely one, often the only voice of the public in the face of opposition from
powerful officials.

This is why gatherings such as this are so important. They provide each of us
with the opportunity to compare our situation with that of other countries, to
keep in touch with the latest developments, to exchange skills and experiences
and to inspire us further for the benefit of all. South Africa, so new to this
field, has a great deal to learn from everyone else.

Among the common challenges that we face is ensuring equitable involvement of
women in this work. It was to voice our commitment to this objective that, with
the advantage of latecomers, we decided to give the office of "ombudsman" a
formal designation reflecting the culture of non-sexism that its duties, by
definition, imply.

I wish you well in your deliberations. I am confident that the people of
South Africa and Africa as a whole will benefit from your conclusions.

To our visitors from other countries, may I say how privileged we feel to be
your host. May your stay in South Africa be a pleasant one.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the President