Issued by: The Office of the Public Protector
From 26 to 29 August 1996 the Office of the Public Protector of South Africa hosted a regional workshop for investigative officials and other representative of the ombudsman office from 27 countries with the aim of strengthening the institution of ombudsmanship throughout Africa.
The workshop idea was initiated by the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and the workshop itself was held under the auspices of the IOI which is based in Alberta, Canada. It was sponsored by a number of local and international institutions, namely: Agence de la Francophonie, Commonwealth Secretariat, Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation, United Nations Development Programme, Denel Informatics and First National Bank.
President Nelson Mandela performed the official opening which was attended by eminent South Africans including judges, academics, members of Parliament and the Mayor of Pretoria.
The workshop coincides with the anniversary of the ombudsman movement in Africa which began with the establishment of the Tanzanian Permanent Commission of Enquiry in 1966. The workshop represented the first real attempt in the continent of Africa to respond to the training needs of ombudsman offices.
Indeed in a most unprecedented fashion, the workshop successfully brought together representatives from all the leading ombudsman institutions in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone Africa.
As the President observed in his opening speech, the choice of South Africa as a venue was a recognition by the international ombudsman community of the crucial role of the Office of the Public Protector in the country's democratic dispensation. In his view, its credibility is established across the spectrum.
All told, the workshop provided an excellent opportunity for African ombudsman offices to learn from one another and to familiarise themselves with the successful conduct of the investigative function.
Workshop participants recognised that professionalisation of the ombudsman institutions was so advanced that efforts were necessary to systematically train and develop persons who run such offices in Africa. It was emphasised that ombudsmen offices are of paramount importance during this time of prevailing governance challenges and the participants at the workshop called for increased support from national leadership.
Lastly, participants expressed gratitude to all those who provided financial support for the holding of the workshop as well as to the President, the Government and people of South Africa and the Office of the Public Protector for their excellent welcome and hospitality.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR OR THE INTERNATIONAL OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION CONTACT DR T SCHUTTE AT (012) 3222916 29 August 1996