This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Dialogue, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.
Chapter 9 - State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy
Establishment and governing principles
181. (1) The following state institutions strengthen constitutional democracy in the Republic:
(2) These institutions are independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law, and they must be impartial and must exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice.
(3) Other organs of state, through legislative and other measures, must assist and protect these institutions to ensure the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of these institutions.
(4) No person or organ of state may interfere with the functioning of these institutions.
(5) These institutions are accountable to the National Assembly, and must report on their activities and the performance of their functions to the Assembly at least once a year.
Public Protector
Functions of Public Protector
182. (1) The Public Protector has the power, as regulated by national legislation
(2) The Public Protector has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.
(3) The Public Protector may not investigate court decisions.
(4) The Public Protector must be accessible to all persons and communities.
(5) Any report issued by the Public Protector must be open to the public unless exceptional circumstances, to be determined in terms of national legislation, require that a report be kept confidential.
Tenure
183. The Public Protector is appointed for a non-renewable period of seven years.
Human Rights Commission
Functions of Human Rights Commission
184. (1) The Human Rights Commission must
(2) The Human Rights Commission has the powers, as regulated by national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power
(3) Each year, the Human Rights Commission must require relevant organs of state to provide the Commission with information on the measures that they have taken towards the realisation of the rights in the Bill of Rights concerning housing, health care, food, water, social security, education and the environment.
(4) The Human Rights Commission has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities
Functions of Commission
185. (1) The primary objects of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities are
(2) The Commission has the power, as regulated by national legislation, necessary to achieve its primary objects, including the power to monitor, investigate, research, educate, lobby, advise and report on issues concerning the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities.
(3) The Commission may report any matter which falls within its powers and functions to the Human Rights Commission for investigation.
(4) The Commission has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.
Composition of Commission
186. (1) The number of members of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities and their appointment and terms of office must be prescribed by national legislation.
(2) The composition of the Commission must-
Commission for Gender Equality
Functions of Commission for Gender Equality
187. (1) The Commission for Gender Equality must promote respect for gender equality and the protection, development and attainment of gender equality.
(2) The Commission for Gender Equality has the power, as regulated by national legislation, necessary to perform its functions, including the power to monitor, investigate, research, educate, lobby, advise and report on issues concerning gender equality.
(3) The Commission for Gender Equality has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.
Auditor-General
Functions of Auditor-General
188. (1) The Auditor-General must audit and report on the accounts, financial statements and financial management of
(2) In addition to the duties prescribed in subsection (1), and subject to any legislation, the Auditor-General may audit and report on the accounts, financial statements and financial management of
(3) The Auditor-General must submit audit reports to any legislature that has a direct interest in the audit, and to any other authority prescribed by national legislation. All reports must be made public.
(4) The Auditor-General has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.
Tenure
189. The Auditor-General must be appointed for a fixed, non-renewable term of between five and ten years.
Electoral Commission
Functions of Electoral Commission
190. (1) The Electoral Commission must
(2) The Electoral Commission has the additional powers and functions prescribed by national legislation.
Composition of Electoral Commission
191. The Electoral Commission must be composed of at least three persons. The number of members and their terms of office must be prescribed by national legislation.
Independent Authority to Regulate Broadcasting
Broadcasting Authority
192. National legislation must establish an independent authority to regulate broadcasting in the public interest, and to ensure fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing South African society.
General Provisions
Appointments
193. (1) The Public Protector and the members of any Commission established by this Chapter must be women or men who
(2) The need for a Commission established by this Chapter to reflect broadly the race and gender composition of South Africa must be considered when members are appointed.
(3) The Auditor-General must be a woman or a man who is a South African citizen and a fit and proper person to hold that office. Specialised knowledge of, or experience in, auditing, state finances and public administration must be given due regard in appointing the Auditor-General.
(4) The President, on the recommendation of the National Assembly, must appoint the Public Protector, the Auditor-General and the members of
(5) The National Assembly must recommend persons
i of at least 60 per cent of the members of the Assembly, if the recommendation concerns the appointment of the Public Protector or the Auditor-General; or
ii of a majority of the members of the Assembly, if the recommendation concerns the appointment of a member of a Commission.
(6) The involvement of civil society in the recommendation process may be provided for as envisaged in section 59(1)(a).
Removal from office
194. (1) The Public Protector, the Auditor-General or a member of a Commission established by this Chapter may be removed from office only on
(2) A resolution of the National Assembly concerning the removal from office of
(3) The President