Public protector gets R60m lifeline

Johannesburg - The office of the public protector was saved from insolvency with a R60m lifeline in the budget, Netwerk24 reported on Thursday.

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene announced in his budget presentation that the protector would receive that amount over three years.

In 2013 to 2014 the protector was allocated R199.3m, in 2014 to 2015 R217.6m, and in the coming year it would rise to R246.1m.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said she was relieved and grateful, but it was a drop in the ocean.

Last year she told parliament her office was "technically insolvent" because of the growth of the organisation, and its workload over the past five years.

Her staff of 314 had to handle 40 000 cases last year.

Her spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said Madonsela was thankful that her pleas did not fall on deaf ears and though little, it would definitely bring relief.

The protector's office would still have to make drastic cutbacks.

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