Public Protector

Office of the Public Protector (OPP)
National Institution overview
Formed	1 October 1995
Preceding National Institution	The Office of the Ombudsman;
Type	Chapter nine institution
Jurisdiction	Government
Headquarters	175 Lunnon Street, Hillcrest Office Park, 0083, Pretoria, South Africa; 25°45′28″S 28°14′26″E / 25.757869°S 28.240425°E;
Annual budget	R 2.4 billion (2026/27)
National Institution executive	Adv Nompilo Kholeka Gcaleka, Public Protector; Deputy Public Protector;
Parent National Institution	None (independent)
Key documents	Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996; Public Protector Act 23 of 1994; Executive Members Ethics Act 82 of 1998; Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA); Electoral Commission Act 51 of 1996; Special Investigation Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996;
Website	www.pprotect.org
Map

The Public Protector in South Africa is one of six independent state institutions set up by the country's Constitution to support and defend democracy.

According to Section 181 of the Constitution:

These institutions are independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law. According to the Constitution, they must be impartial and must exercise their powers and perform their functions without fear, favour or prejudice.
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.
No person or organ of state may interfere with the functioning of these institutions.
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.