We need to build an accurateness of excellence and that can only be done once we have reviewed our strategic plan and aligned our key priorities to ensure that they are aligned to national priorities.
This the new appointed Ombudsman, Adv. Tlotliso Polaki said when outlining Ombudsman’s vision at the press conference held on Tuesday in Maseru.
Adv. Polaki said the office of the Ombudsman is working hard to ensure that malfunctioning administration and corruption are uprooted, hence those responsible for delivering public services do so with efficiency.
She said going forward, their role needs to be strengthened, saying they are hopeful that the Omnibus Bill will be passed because they have made the propositions that the powers of the Ombudsman should be reviewed to the extent that the recommendations they make should be binding as now they are mere recommendations which administratively cause a problem.
She said binding the Ombudsman recommendations is vital as currently different stakeholders take advantage that recommendations do not have binding force hence, they are not forced to comply so choose not to comply with the recommendations of the Ombudsman which the Ombudsman’s office periodically refers to the Parliament.
She said the legal binding Ombudsman recommendations will eliminate delays in the system.
Adv. Polaki said her vision is to change the way the Ombudsman’s office has been operating to increase efficiency, adding that there should be a more sufficient system for the inquiries.
She further noted that their office should be more responsive to the public to ensure that justice is served without any favours.
She added that there is a need for the establishment of district complaint clinics which will decentralise Ombudsman services across the country.
Again, she said capacitation of staff needs to be recognised because this will help to build a core determination of personnel to provide efficient services, saying this will improve the competence of the staff.
The mandate of the Ombudsman is to receive and investigate complaints from the aggrieved persons against the government agencies and statutory corporations or officials of such agencies and organisations.
The newly appointed Adv. Polaki graduated from the National University of Lesotho and obtained a B. Comm (Accounting) and an L.L.B degree. Subsequent, she was duly admitted as an Advocate of the High Courts of Lesotho and the High Courts of South Africa in 1997 and 1998 respectively.
She furthered her schooling and attained an L.L.M (Corporate) degree from the University of Natal, Durban in 2003. Concurrent to advancing her studies, she also completed the LSSA’s Compulsory Practical Vocational Training for Candidate Legal Practitioners.
Adv. Tlotliso Polaki served as a magistrate at the Maseru Magistrate Court for several years. Her main role was to adjudicate criminal and civil matters within her area of jurisdiction, issue reasoned findings after hearing both parties and make determinations depending on the circumstances of each case.
She subsequently resigned and joined the private sector in South Africa in 2003, where she trained as a forensic investigator and worked for Gobodo Forensic Accounting (Pty) Ltd and Mvelaphanda Group, ZMS (Pty) Ltd as legal counsel. She served in various capacities as senior legal advisor at the National Gambling Board of South Africa, the National Nuclear Regulator and most recently, as Chief Legal Officer at the National Covid-19 Secretariat in Lesotho. She was appointed as the Chairperson of the Teaching Service Tribunal in January 2019. In June 2022, Adv. Polaki was appointed as the Ombudsman at the Office of the Ombudsman
By Staff Reporter Noliwe Velaphe
