Article 90(2) of the Constitution stipulates that the Ombudsman shall hold office until the age of 65, and that the President may extend the retiring age to 70. The SCA reiterates its previous concern that the term of the Ombudsman is not limited, and notes that the draft Ombudsman Bill maintains this provision. 

To promote institutional independence, the SCA encourages that a term of office between three and seven years, with the option to renew once, be provided for in the Ombudsman’s enabling law. 

The SCA encourages the Ombudsman to continue to advocate for amendments to its legal framework to provide for such a fixed term for the Ombudsman and the Deputy Ombudsman. 

The SCA refers to Paris Principle B.3 and to its General Observation 2.2 on ‘Full-time members of an NHRI’.