09/10/2026
OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE TO HIGHLIGHT ACHIEVEMENTS, CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD
The Office of the Ombudsman, led by Ombudsman Advocate Stephen Tiroyakgosi, today, 9th October 2026, held a press conference under the theme “Strengthening Administrative Justice: Mandate, Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward.” The briefing provided an opportunity to inform the media and the public about the Office’s mandate, key achievements, ongoing human rights initiatives and challenges affecting the delivery of justice.
In his opening remarks, Adv. Tiroyakgosi reaffirmed the Office’s dual mandate of promoting administrative justice and protecting and promoting human rights, emphasising its commitment to fairness, accountability, transparency and effective redress for members of the public. He highlighted progress in expanding access to services, modernising case management, strengthening institutional capacity and improving public understanding of human rights. However, he noted that delayed responses from public institutions, growing complaint volumes and the non-implementation of recommendations remain significant challenges. He called for stronger institutional independence to enable the Office to discharge its mandate effectively.
The Deputy Ombudsman – Administrative Justice, Ms. Dudu Leinaeng, presented an overview of investigative trends over five financial years, during which the Office received 5,404 maladministration cases and resolved 2,275. She raised concern over outstanding recommendations, noting that of 36 recommendations issued to nine Ministries, Departments and Agencies during the reporting period presented, 34 remained pending and two were partially implemented. She emphasised that investigations must lead to corrective action, improved public services and accountability, while highlighting the financial and institutional costs of maladministration.
The Deputy Ombudsman–Human Rights, Ms. Beaulah Mguni, outlined the Office’s ongoing efforts to advance human rights through public education, community engagement, research and targeted interventions for vulnerable and marginalised groups. Key initiatives include establishing a Children’s Desk to strengthen child-sensitive complaint handling, promoting disability rights and improving access to information through translations of the Ombudsman’s mandate and the Bill of Rights into Setswana, Ikalanga, Shekgalagari, Braille and sign language. The Office is also advancing work on business and human rights, gender equality, indigenous and marginalised communities, and environmental rights, while strengthening its institutional framework towards compliance with international standards for National Human Rights Institutions.
The press conference reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to becoming more accessible, responsive and effective in addressing maladministration and human rights concerns. The Ombudsman called on public institutions to cooperate with investigations and implement recommendations, the media to continue promoting accountability, and members of the public to understand and exercise their rights.
The ultimate measure of success is not simply the number of complaints received or resolved, but whether injustices are corrected, recommendations implemented, human rights protected and public services improved.
"The Office of the Ombudsman — We will listen, when no one else will."
