BackPublic Protector Adv. Thuli Madonsela was, on Friday 2 September 2016, awarded Honorary Membership of the Law Society of Botswana. An inscription on the award states that Adv. Madonsela is being recognized for “…her unwavering and courageous defence of strong independent public institutions."
Speaking at an event held at the Phakalane Golf Estate in Gaborone, Chairperson of the Council of the Law Society Mr. Lawrence Lecha described the Public Protector as a symbol and champion of independent public institutions, adding that these were the values the Law Society of Botswana stood.
Accepting the accolade, Adv. Madonsela said she was honoured by the recognition as it signified affirmation of the role her team plays in strengthening democracy while ensuring justice for Gogo Dlamini, or ordinary complainants, through the promotion of good governance in state affairs.
Adv. Madonsela delivered a keynote address to delegates, mainly drawn from the country’s legal community, organs of state involved in the rule of law and the diplomatic corps. She said strong independent state institutions have become an important imperative for strong democracies in the modern world as the traditional political mechanism for monitoring and curbing excesses in the exercise of state power and control over public resources have proven inadequate for the complexities of the modern state.
In a message directed to those in the oversight sector, Adv. Madonsela said they had to embrace and be comfortable with the fact they sat between government and the people to ensure that people were protected. She encouraged those entrusted with public power, including politicians to transcend fear. Adv. Madonsela said this included embracing the unknown and appointing truly independent persons in the entire value chain.
The Public Protector was in Botswana at the invitation of the Law Society in that country. During her stay in Gaborone, she also met with the newly-appointed Ombudsman of Botswana, Mr. Augustine Makgonatsotlhe, on a benchmarking exercise and to explore areas for future collaborations, including participation in the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association’s (AOMA) activities and utilizing services of the South African based and DIRCO-funded African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC).
She congratulated Botswana on celebrating 50 years of democracy without a coup and for having consistently maintained a good position in the Mo Ibrahim Governance Index, saying Botswana's success story was Africa's success story.
To read the full press releas on Adv. Madonsela's speech, please visit the website of the Public Protector South Africa.
Source: Office of the Public Protector, South Africa
