Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane yesterday told Parliament her office needed R1 billion to address the risks associated with its mandate.
“For us to be fully operational with a structure fully funded, as you know only 50 of our staff are funded, is around R1bn to stay afloat and ensure it is effective.
“Overall lack of capital injection to address the risks associated with the institution’s mandate, including the strategic orientated goals, the Public Protector South Africa requires at least R1bn to stay afloat and ensure it is effective,” Mkhwebane said.
Mkhwebane made the statement when her office was briefing the justice and correctional services portfolio committee on their R301.8m budget for the 2017-18 financial year.
Newly appointed chief executive Themba Dlamini said the requested funding was a “conservative amount”.
Dlamini said the institution was already sitting on a shortfall of R626m over three financial years due to current staff establishment of 50%. "Two times R626m is R1.2bn, that is why we are saying at least R1bn,” he said.