Public Protector scoops second award in a
week
Wednesday, 09 November 2011
Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela was on Tuesday night
bestowed with a Paul Harris Fellows award by the Rotary Club
of Johannesburg on behalf of Rotary International, a global
body of rotary clubs.
Named after the founder of the rotary, Paul Harris, the
award is the highest honour that the rotary can bestow on an
individual. According to the President of the Rotary Club
of Johannesburg, Mike Moriarty, the accolade is awarded to
individuals, who have made an outstanding contribution to
society.
Receiving the award, the Public Protector said she and
her team were humbled by the unwavering public support. “It
tells us that the people of South Africa approve of our
efforts in protecting them against excesses in the exercise
of public power,” she said. This was the second award the
Public Protector received in a period of five days after she
scooped the Mail and Guardian Drivers of Change Award last
Thursday in recognition of the good work her office
continues to do. Speaking at the Club earlier last night,
the Public Protector lauded Rotarians for their contribution
to the development of communities, which includes the
building of crèches, a school and a health care clinic for
needy communities in and around Johannesburg. Quoting
former President Nelson Mandela on the spirit of ubuntu, the
Public Protector said the humanitarian acts of the Rotary
Club were in line with the time-tested African value of
ubuntu.
She said new business people, particularly those who
continued to benefit from transformative state policies such
as the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment had to be
encouraged to donate to charity willingly.
Instead of blowing obscene amounts of money on lavish
birthday parties and related social events, the Public
Protector said such business people could build schools and
hospitals or donate much needed equipment to such
institutions. In response to the question, what does
protecting the public means, the theme of her speech, the
Public Protector stated that the view of her team was that
she protects the public through exacting accountability in
the exercise of public power. She further maintained that
the her role in supporting and strengthening constitutional
democracy through exacting accountability in the exercise of
public power must contribute to the realisation of good
governance, human rights and the freedom promised in the
Constitution. Issued by: Public Protector South Africa
For more information, contact: Kgalalelo Masibi
Senior Manager: Outreach, Education and Communication
Public Protector South Africa
Tel: 012 366 7006
Cell: 079 507 0399
Email:
kgalalelom@pprotect.org
Website:
www.publicprotector.org
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