Analysis of the role and effectiveness of the Public Protector in fighting corruption : a case study of Tshwane Municipality in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

Corruption is a universal problem that undermines growth and development by diverting resources away from development programmes. Its effects are particularly harmful to the poor in developing countries, thus fighting corruption becomes one of the most important challenges facing new democracies like South Africa. Consequently, South Africa has instituted a number of anti-corruption machinery to fight this scourge. However, as the anti-corruption machinery and strategies intensified in South Africa, the level of corruption in the country seems to be escalating. Given this background, the researcher was motivated to critically evaluate the role and effectiveness of one of the institutions established to fight corruption in South Africa, the Public Protector. The Public Protector is mandated to fight corruption in terms of section 2 of the Public Protector Act no 113 of 1998. The researcher used the mixed research method. This entailed that the research used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, in which data was collected through the questionnaires and interviews. Data was collected and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Ethical considerations such as the need for voluntary participation, confidentiality and anonymity and informed consent were also observed. The major findings of the study were that; the Public Protector is a critical institution, well positioned to fight corruption in South Africa. The study also provided evidence showing that the Public Protector has been effective in fighting corruption, although its effectiveness in this regard can be improved by providing sufficient resources and prioritisation of investigations. The recommendations of the study are that, in order for Public Protector to be more effective in its mandate to fight corruption, sufficient resources should be provided for investigations and awareness campaigns to educate the public about all forms of corruption and how to report them. The Public protector should prioritise interventions in critical sectors such as health in order to enhance its effectiveness in alleviating the impacts of corruption on the ordinary citizens. In addition, findings from the study suggest that there should also be an amendment of the legislation to ensure that the Public Protector has sufficient enforcement powers, instead of only recommending interventions for implementation by other institutions.