Protecting public in absence of Busisiwe Mkhwebane By Michael Donen Share The job of the Office of Public Protector is to protect the people from the state. The office is defined in the Constitution. Its holder is appointed by government; but is thereafter independent of it. It investigates state and governmental improprieties and has the power to take remedial action. The efficient functioning of the office requires a number of things. In descending order of difficulty, the office holder needs to be independent; have an understanding of the legal powers they possess, the purpose of those powers, and the limitations of those powers; believe in the constitutional framework that created the office they hold; be possessed of a basic honesty; and be willing to turn up for work.