City of Johannesburg’s ombudsman aim to restore his office

The current City of Johannesburg’s acting ombudsman is adamant that the work of his office is relevant to the residents of the city.

Advocate Ernest Chipu has been the acting ombudsman since March last year after the former ombudsman, Advocate Sduduzo Gumede resigned.

The objective of the office of the ombudsman is to ensure that all complaints relating to alleged acts of maladministration in the City or where members of the public are alleged to have suffered an injustice as a result of such maladministration are investigated and dealt with in a proper manner. According to Chipu, his office is one of the most important offices in the City and said it carried a big task in ensuring service delivery is rendered to the people, especially the poor.

In an exclusive interview with North Eastern Tribune on 18 June, Chipu said he was working hard to restore faith in his office and encouraged residents to make use of it. The office was established in the midst of the controversial ‘billing crisis’ during the then ANC-led administration on the recommendations of the former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

“This was because the Public Protector was inundated with complaints fro residents and she then suggested the establishment of such an office to Parks Tau, the then City’s mayor to work together with her office to resolve the issues, but not only focusing on billing issues but other service delivery related issues,” said Chipu.

“The office was unknown then by many residents even though it was passed unaminously in the City’s council by the current DA-led administration and the minority parties. Since the office was opened, it has had four ombudsmen which has made it look inefficient but now it has been recognised for the work that it does, especially by the City’s entities.”

He said they have now established a cordial relationship with the City and more especially the mayor, Herman Mashaba, on the office’s functions.

Chipu said plans were now at an advanced stage to restructure his office and ensure its efficiency.

“We aim to restore it and we also want to have staff working in all the City’s seven regions administering the work of the ombudsman directly to the public, rather than the usual information boxes.

“We have also procured a new electronic system which will fast-track complaints from the public directly to our staff who will verify and deal with them as per their urgency.”

The acting ombudsman said a budget had also been made available for the office to employ competent staff.

Chipu reminded residents that the office of the ombudsman was the ‘last instance’, meaning the City’s customers should only approach the office when they had exhausted all avenues in laying complaints.

Details: www.joburgombudsman.org.za

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