Office of the Ombudsman for the City of Johannesburg holds lecture at Nadine Gordimer Auditorium
We joined advocate S’du Gumede, Johannesburg’s Ombudsman, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg, as he explored the vital role of the Ombudsman in promoting good governance and protecting human rights.
The office of the Ombudsman, in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Community Engagement Department, hosted a hybrid public lecture titled: The role of the Ombudsman in good governance, at the prestigious Nadine Gordimer Auditorium at UJ.
Read more: CoJ residents hope to find support in Ombudsman.
This venue is renowned for its association with the esteemed author and advocate for social justice.
Advocate S’du Gumede, the Ombudsman for the City of Johannesburg, delivered a compelling address outlining the critical functions of the Ombudsman’s office in fostering good governance.
He emphasised that the Ombudsman is recognised as a premier statutory body that upholds essential principles such as impartiality, transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.
“The office understands that good governance is integral to enhancing local governance and protecting the human rights of Johannesburg’s residents,” Gumede stated.
He highlighted the office’s pivotal role in advancing the city’s developmental initiatives, particularly through Community-Based Planning (CBP) and Integrated Development Planning (IDP).
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During his presentation, Gumede elaborated on how the Ombudsman’s office, guided by the Ombudsman by-law of 2023, actively promotes human rights by ensuring adherence to procedural fairness and administrative justice.
The office also strives to preserve compliance with municipal policies and by-laws, raise awareness of human rights among citizens, and investigate complaints of human rights violations within the municipal administration, as said by Gumede.
“Through such collaborative efforts, we hope to encourage an engaged citizenry where individuals view themselves as partners in governance,” Gumede remarked.
He urged residents to contribute to a robust democratic system by fulfilling their civic duties, such as timely payment of municipal services and compliance with city regulations.
Gumede concluded by stressing the importance of fostering a culture of accountability among Johannesburg’s residents to build public trust, enhance service delivery, and create a just society.
The lecture not only highlighted the essential role of the Ombudsman in good governance but also called upon citizens to become active participants in shaping the future of their city.
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