Public Protector South Africa

11 March 2023

Public Protector's notice on Phala-Phala investigation delivered to affected and implicated persons

The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) confirms that on 10 March 2023, a notice in terms of section 7(9) of the Public Protector Act 23 of 1994 read with Rule 42(1) and 41(1) of the Rules Relating to Investigations by the Public Protector and Matters Incidental Thereto, 2018, as amended, was delivered to the affected and implicated persons in the Phala-Phala farm investigation.

The notice encloses the preliminary findings of the Public Protector and provides recipients with an opportunity to respond to the Public Protector’s preliminary findings.

The affected and implicated persons have been afforded 10(TEN) calendar days to make representations to the Public Protector.

The notice remains prohibited for public consumption under section 7(2) of the Public Protector Act which prohibits the disclosure, by any person, of the contents of any document or record of any evidence given before the Public Protector or Deputy Public Protector during an investigation.

Once the affected and implicated persons have submitted representations to the Public Protector, such representations will be considered and a final report will be produced and published in terms of section 8(1) of the Public Protector Act read with section 182(1)(b) of the Constitution.

Statement issued by Office of the Public Protector via Facebook, 11 March 2023