Public Protector South Africa – Breaching the Law Itself While Supposed to Uphold It

I never imagined I would be writing a complaint against an institution tasked with defending constitutional democracy and protecting the rights of the vulnerable. Yet, here I am — disillusioned and appalled by the conduct of the Public Protector South Africa (PPSA).

I was interviewed for the position of Manager: Supply Chain Management on 26 March 2024. Within two days, PPSA conducted a reference check on me. Shortly thereafter, I was instructed to undergo fingerprint verification and submit a copy of my payslip — clear indicators that I was being seriously considered for the position.

However, all communication then mysteriously ceased.

In accordance with the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), I submitted a formal request for reasons as to why I was not appointed. Despite this being a legal obligation, PPSA has failed to respond, in direct violation of Section 5 of PAJA, which guarantees every individual the right to request written reasons for an administrative decision that adversely affects them.

To make matters worse, the official who was handling my request resigned suddenly and without explanation immediately after I indicated that I would escalate the matter to a higher authority. Since then, emails to senior officials Mr. Maredi and Ms. Molokomme have gone unanswered.

What began as a routine recruitment process has now become a textbook case of procedural unfairness, possible administrative manipulation, and what appears to be a deliberate attempt to cover up the truth.

This is not just poor governance — it is a serious breach of the law by the very institution entrusted to uphold it. It is unacceptable that a Chapter 9 institution, which is supposed to be a custodian of justice, transparency, and accountability, is behaving in such an evasive and ********* manner.

If the Public Protector South Africa cannot adhere to the very laws it enforces, how can any citizen trust it to protect their rights?

I urge relevant oversight bodies and the broader public to take note of this disturbing conduct. This is not just a personal grievance — it is a matter of constitutional integrity. I am now in the process of filing with the high court to have this miscarriage of justice reviewed.

#ConstitutionalBreach #PAJAViolation #PublicProtectorSA #UnfairRecruitment #CoverUp #AdministrativeJustice #RuleOfLaw