Only a small number of service delivery complaints were received from Mpumalanga residents for the 2010/2011 financial year, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said on Wednesday.
The 994 complaints received were not reflective of a province that had about 3.6-million people, she said in a visit to Kamhlushwa, a township near Buffelspruit.
Residents told Madonsela that it was too far to travel to offices in Nelspruit and Siyabuswa. Nelspruit is about 90km away from Kamhlushwa while Siyabuswa is about 380 kilometres away.
Madonsela said she was working on improving accessibility to services.
Residents also believed that she only dealt with cases involving high profile government leaders.
“Contrary to popular belief, matters concerning ordinary people make up the lion’s share of the more than 16 000 cases I deal with on an annual basis,” she said.
Some of these matters were delayed and denied services relating to identity documents, housing, social grants, unemployment insurance fund and pensions.
She called on people to lodge complaints timeously.
Madonsela would complete a nationwide consultation with communities in August. — Sapa