City Ombud highlights it’s ‘here to hear you’ in recognition of international day
31 October 2024
In honour of international Ombuds Day, the City’s Ombud, Vusumzi Magwebu, hosted an event at the Parow Civic Centre to engage residents of Cape Town and interest groups to highlight the effectiveness of the role an ombudsman institution plays within service delivery.
‘A number of guest speakers from various interest groups were at the event including the Public Protector of South Africa, Western Cape Police Ombudsman, Office of the Consumer Protector, Community Schemes Ombuds Service, National Financial Ombudsman Scheme and a delegation from Cameroon.
‘City departments and industry regulatory bodies hosted information tables to provide advice and assist members of the public to lodge complaints.
‘Ombuds Day is recognised around the world during October. The City Ombud hosted a number of events, under the theme ‘Here to Hear You’, over the course of this month with a focus on raising awareness about the Ombudsman profession and its value-add for the services it offers. We encourage residents to make use of this free and voluntary option for complaints-handling,’ said Ombud Magwebu.
The Ombudsman’s Office deals with last-resort municipal-related complaints about the City’s administration, as an office of last resort. This means that complainants would need to approach their first point of contact, such as the City’s Customer Relations Management Department or Subcouncil before approaching the Ombud’s Office.
The Ombud’s Office is available to assist City staff and members of the public with all last resort municipal-related complaints (complaints that have gone through the City service channels prior to approaching the Ombud) via the telephone, SMS and online option as below:
• SMS: 44781 (Standard Rates Apply)
• Tel: 021 400 5487
• Fax: 021 400 5952
• Email: ombudsdirect@capetown.gov.za
• Website: http://www.capetown.gov.za/ombudscomplaints
• eOmbud: www.capetown.gov.za/eOmbud
For more information relating to the Office of the City Ombudsman, please visit: City Ombudsman webpage.
End Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
