Government · Contact details
Public Protector Contact Details
The Public Protector’s toll-free number is 0800 11 20 40, and all new complaints must be emailed to registration2@pprotect.org. Public Protector South Africa is a Chapter 9 constitutional institution that investigates complaints against organs of state and state functionaries.
Public Protector contact details at a glance
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| Toll-free line | 0800 11 20 40 |
| Head office switchboard | 012 366 7000 |
| Head office alternative lines | 012 366 7112 / 069 470 7550 |
| Complaints lines | 012 366 7000 / 7112 / 7228 / 7222 |
| Customer service line | 012 366 7143 |
| New complaints email | registration2@pprotect.org |
| Customer service email | customerservice@pprotect.org |
| Media enquiries email | mediaenquiries@pprotect.org |
| Fax | 012 362 3473 |
| Call-me-back USSD (MTN) | *121*083 274 4124# |
| Call-me-back USSD (Vodacom / Telkom) | *140*083 274 4124# |
| Call-me-back USSD (Cell C) | *111*083 274 4124# |
| Complaints management portal | cma.pprotect.org |
| Head office address | Public Protector House, Hillcrest Office Park, 175 Lunnon Street, Pretoria 0083 |
| Postal address | Private Bag X677, Pretoria 0001 |
Official contact channels
Call the toll-free line on 0800 11 20 40. If you cannot afford to call, the free call-me-back service works on all four networks: dial *121*083 274 4124# on MTN, *140*083 274 4124# on Vodacom or Telkom, or *111*083 274 4124# on Cell C.
The head office switchboard is 012 366 7000, with alternative lines 012 366 7112 and 069 470 7550. For complaints, the head office lists 012 366 7000 / 7112 / 7228 / 7222. Questions about an existing complaint go to the customer service line, 012 366 7143, or customerservice@pprotect.org. The fax number is 012 362 3473.
The Public Protector South Africa email address for new complaints is registration2@pprotect.org. mediaenquiries@pprotect.org is for media enquiries only, so do not send complaints there.
Provincial and regional complaint mailboxes
- Eastern Cape: ECRegistry@pprotect.org
- Free State: FSregistry@pprotect.org
- Gauteng: JHBregistry@pprotect.org
- KwaZulu-Natal (Durban): DurbanRegistry@pprotect.org, see the Durban office page
- Limpopo: PolokwaneRegistry@pprotect.org
- Mpumalanga: NelspruitRegistry@pprotect.org
- Northern Cape: KimberlyRegistry@pprotect.org
- North West: MahikengRegistry@pprotect.org
- Western Cape: WCRegistry@pprotect.org
- Rustenburg regional office: RustenburgRegistry@pprotect.org
- George regional office: GeorgeRegistry@pprotect.org
Services and responsibilities
The Public Protector handles complaints about abuse of power, undue delay, maladministration, dishonesty with public money and improper enrichment by organs of state. It has no jurisdiction over private persons, private companies or court decisions.
A complaint must be reported within two years of the incident. Complaints are registered within 2 working days, acknowledged in writing within 3 working days, and assessed for jurisdiction within 7 working days of registration. Once an investigation starts, complainants get feedback every 6 weeks. Administrative justice cases aim to finish in 6 to 12 months, and good governance and integrity cases can take up to 24 months.
Office and address information
The head office is at Public Protector House, Hillcrest Office Park, 175 Lunnon Street, Pretoria 0083. Post goes to Public Protector South Africa, Private Bag X677, Pretoria 0001. There are provincial offices in every province, and complaints can also be lodged at visiting points in all provinces, which are serviced at least once a month. The website does not publish office hours.
How to lodge a complaint
- Check that the matter is about an organ of state or a state functionary, not a private company or a court decision.
- Prepare your complaint: what happened and the background, why it should be investigated, the steps you have already taken (names, dates and what was said), copies of correspondence, and your postal address and phone number.
- Email it to registration2@pprotect.org or your provincial registry mailbox, call 0800 11 20 40, lodge it on cma.pprotect.org, or visit an office or visiting point.
- Expect a written acknowledgement within 3 working days and a jurisdiction assessment within 7 working days.
If you have not heard back, follow up with customer service on 012 366 7143. For other public bodies, browse the government hub or the government directory P to S listings.
FAQs
What is the Public Protector toll-free number?
The toll-free line is 0800 11 20 40. You can also request a call back by USSD, for example *121*083 274 4124# on MTN.
What is the Public Protector South Africa email address?
New complaints go to registration2@pprotect.org. Customer service is customerservice@pprotect.org, and media enquiries go to mediaenquiries@pprotect.org.
How long do I have to lodge a complaint?
A complaint must be reported within two years from the date of the incident.
Can the Public Protector investigate a private company?
No. It has no jurisdiction over private persons, private companies or court decisions.
Sources
- Public Protector, Head office: pprotect.org/?q=content/head-office, read 2026-09-26
- Public Protector, Toll-free line: pprotect.org/?q=content/toll-free-line, read 2026-09-26
- Public Protector, Complaints e-mail addresses: pprotect.org/?q=content/complaints-e-mail-address, read 2026-09-26
- Public Protector, Media enquiries: pprotect.org/?q=content/media-enquiries, read 2026-09-26
- Public Protector, Complaint process: pprotect.org/?q=content/complaint-process, read 2026-09-26
- Public Protector, How long it will take: pprotect.org/?q=content/how-long-it-will-take, read 2026-09-26
- Public Protector, What we can help with: pprotect.org/?q=content/what-we-can-help, read 2026-09-26