WHEREAS sections 181 to 183 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996), provide for the establishment of the office of Public Protector and that the Public Protector has the power, as regulated by national legislation, to investigate any conduct in state affairs, or in the public administration in any sphere of government, that is alleged or suspected to be improper or to have resulted in any impropriety or prejudice, to report on that conduct and to take appropriate remedial action, in order to strengthen and support constitutional democracy in the Republic;

AND WHEREAS sections 193 and 194 of the Constitution provide for a mechanism for the appointment and removal of the Public Protector;

AND WHEREAS the Constitution envisages further legislation to provide for certain ancillary matters pertaining to the office of Public Protector;

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

[Preamble substituted by section 2 of Act No. 113 of 1998]