Toll-free Hotline 0800 20 20 20
The Ombudsperson and Head of Investigations
- is a high level public official;
- is the link between the people and eThekwini departments;
- is independent of any political party;
- addresses complaints relating to maladministration, fraud and corruption with impartiality and improves the City's responsiveness to those complaints and specialises in coordinating the efforts of several eThekwini Municipal departments to find a solution.
- to promote respect for human rights and to cultivate a culture of human rights within the eThekwinin Municipal area;
- to investigate any conduct, in the affairs of eThekwini Municipality, that is alleged to be improper or to result in any impropriety or prejudice, including maladministration, corruption, abuse of power, undue delay and unfair discrimination.
The Ombudsperson has powers to resolve disputes by mediation and negotiation or recommend
- disciplinary action,
- institution of civil process,
- institution of criminal investigation,
- improvement of internal controls, and
- any other corrective action.
Reporting procedures:
- All complaints relating to fraud and any form of corruption must immediately be reported to the Ombudsman and Head: Investigations.
- With regards to complaints other than fraud or corruption, internal remedies existing in each Department must be exhausted before referring your complaint to the Ombudsman and Head: Investigations. You should speak to official/s involved, or, if that does not help. communicate your complaint to the person in charge of the said official/s such as the Head of the Department. Only if you are still unsatisfied with the Head's decision should you refer your complaint to the Ombudsperson and Head: Investigations.
Confidentiality and discretion:
- The Ombudsperson and Head: Investigations will treat all information received confidentially.
- 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: Investigations are absolutely free.
Reports can be made at:
- 10th floor, Rennie House, 41 Margaret Mncadi (Victoria Embankment), Durban
- PO Box 5542, Durban, 4000
- Phone 031-311-4002
- Fax 031-311-4115
In terms of section 13 of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, any complaint with regards to acts of maladministration, fraud or corruption against Councillors must first be reported to The Office of The Honourable Speaker, eThekwini Municipality, 1st floor, City Hall (tel 031-311-2002).
The Office of the Ombudsperson and Head: Investigations is based at Durban Central and services areas falling within the jurisdictional area of eThekwini Municipality, extending throughout rural and urban areas, from Umkomaas in the south to Tongaat in the north, and to Cato Ridge in the west.