The office of the Ombusdperson and Head of Investigations is based in Durban Central (East) and service areas falling within the jurisdictional or operational area of the eThekwini municipality. These areas include rural and urban areas from Umkomaas in the south to Tongaat in the North and Cato Ridge in the west.
An Ombud
is a high level public official.
is the link between the people and eThekwini Municipality departments.
is appointed in terms of full Council resolution.
is independent of any political party.
addresses complaints relating to maladministration, fraud and corruption with impartiality and improve the City's responsiveness to those complaints and specialises in co-ordinating the efforts of several eThekwini Municipality departments to find a solution.
reports to the office of the City Manager on a quarterly basis.
Powers of the Ombudsperson and Head: Investigations
To investigate indiscriminately and recommend corrective action befitting the circumstances of each case.
Free and unrestricted access to all municipal records and premises, whether owned or rented.
The authority to examine, copy, and / or remove all or any portion of the content of files, desks, cabinets, computers and other storage facilities on the premises without prior knowledge or consent of any individual who may use or have custody of any such items when it is within the scope of its investigation.
- The authority to require the attendance of any employee at the office of the Ombudsperson and Head: Investigations to give a statement.
Authority
Disciplinary action.
Institution of civil process.
Institution of criminal investigation.
Improvement of internal controls.
Any other appropriate corrective action.
The Ombudsperson and head of investigations will treat all information recieved confidentially and may monitor the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations.
People will be made aware of the issue and the investigation only on a limited need-to-know basis. All services rendered by the Ombudsperson and Head of Investigations are absolutely free.