When her non-renewable seven-year term of office expires in October 2016‚ Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madosela hopes to leave behind an office that would have improved how government treats its people.

Madonsela‚ who was among the three public figures the University of Cape Town honoured with honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees on Thursday‚ was responding to a question on the legacy she wanted to leave behind during a dialogue with young professionals at the Accelerate Cape Town Inspiration Session.

"We would like to ensure that our impact would have improved how government treats people because that is the whole point of this office - to ensure that the state is accountable but also that the state is able to note its mistakes and fix them‚" she said.

Madonsela said she wanted to leave the office stronger than she found it‚ particularly in respect of its ability to resolve complaints speedily while maintaining a high level of competence.

While the office was doing well in terms of the thoroughness of investigations‚ it had to improve in terms of bringing complainants prompt justice‚ including remedial action‚ she said.

Madonsela added that she wanted members of the public to trust and have faith in the office in its entirety irrespective of the service centre or official that attended to their complaints.

"I want to leave a legacy where nobody walks into our office and asks for a particular person‚" she said‚ "we would like people to have confidence in the office as a whole."

Madonsela paid tribute to her predecessors‚ Selby Baqwa and Lawrence Mushwana‚ crediting them with laying the foundation that she later built on.

"I believe Adv Baqwa built this office from nothing and left a strong team. A lot of us didn't know about the office then because a lot of time was spent building the fundamentals‚" she said.

Mushwana on the other hand‚ said the Public Protector‚ was the first to ensure remedial action as seen in the Nandoni report‚ where government was directed to compensate communities residing in the vicinity of the Nandoni Dam in Thohoyandou and secure the crocodile-infested facility for the local community's safety.

She said it was easier for her to raise publicity around the office's powers‚ functions and activities only because a solid foundation had already been laid by both her predecessors.

About receiving the honorary Degree‚ her fourth since 2013‚ Madonsela said the awards were important as they affirmed and recognised the role of the office‚ putting it on the map. The other recipients were struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada and Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke.