10 Apr 2018

Government took the decision to confer the human rights mandate on the Office of the Ombudsman on May 14, 2014, as opposed to establishing a fully-fledged Human Rights Commission.

This was said by the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi in Parliament on April 9.

Mr Molefhi explained that effectively the office would be transformed into a hybrid institution which would perform the functions akin to a Human Rights Commission and also the investigation of complaints of maladministration.

The minister also disclosed that the amendment of the Ombudsman Act to effect the above decision was ongoing, and once completed and the Bill passed into Law, the hybrid institution shall be established.

In addition, Mr Molefhi indicated that the rationale for opting for a hybrid institution was that the protection against maladministration essentially offered protection against violation of human rights.

He stated that budgetary provisions for the transformed office of the Ombudsman could only be considered after the amendment of the law conferring human rights mandate had been passed into law.

The minister was answering a question from Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse who wanted him to confirm whether Cabinet had approved the setting up of a Human Rights Commission or similar body and if so to state when the approval was made and the nature of the envisaged body.

Mr Keorapetse also wanted to know when that body would be established and for what specific purpose or mandate or advantages.

He also asked why the current  budget and NDP 11 were silent on the establishment of this body. ENDS