Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dirk Kotze and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has serious concerns regarding the independence and institutional establishment of the recently announced Mangaung Ombudsman’s Office.
The Ombudsman will play a major rule to enforce the municipal administration to deliver services to the public with recommendations. If services are not delivered within 60 days, residents can lay complaints with the Ombudsman.
The DA will formally write to the Speaker, requesting that an urgent Council item be tabled to establish and secure the independence of the Ombudsman’s Office. Our letter will also call for full disclosure of the governance framework, staffing arrangements, and budget allocations, and for clear reporting lines to ensure institutional autonomy.
On 26 November 2025, the DA asked the City Manager about the Mangaung Ombudsman’s Office, seeking details on its independence, political safeguards, office location and security, protection of case files, staff qualifications, budget, operational autonomy, complaint procedures, turnaround times, and the appointment process. We will aim to ensure the office operates transparently, independently, and effectively for residents. We have received no reply since 2025.
An Ombudsman cannot operate effectively if its independence is not formally entrenched through Council approval. Independence must not merely be stated; it must be structured, protected, and properly resourced.
The Council is the highest decision-making authority in the Municipality. Any structure intended to investigate maladministration, complaints against officials, or executive actions must be established transparently and lawfully through Council resolution. The absence of such approval raises serious governance concerns.
Residents must be assured that the Ombudsman is entirely free from executive control and political influence, operates in a secure, access-controlled environment, employs qualified, impartial staff, maintains a budget that cannot be manipulated to affect investigations, and follows clear procedures for handling complaints. These safeguards are essential to guarantee the Ombudsman’s independence and effectiveness, ensuring that it can serve the community with transparency and integrity.
If the Council does not make sure the Ombudsman is truly independent, those in power could end up controlling it. The DA believes it is important to ensure full accountability; if the Ombudsman is not independent, it cannot properly assist Mangaung’s residents. The Ombudsman can only do its job well if it is free to act independently, without interference.
We will continue to demand transparency, accountability, and proper governance in Mangaung.