All South Africans have a responsibility to support institutions such as the Office of the Public Protector, Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel said.
He was responding in the National Assembly to statements by MPs condemning the raid by police on the Public Protector's office in Pretoria last week.
"It is incumbent upon all of us -- state institutions, [political] parties, citizens -- to stand together to support... chapter nine institutions.
"In this regard we welcome the action by [SA Police Service] national commissioner [General Bheki Cele] to distance himself from the action and to issue an apology to the Public Protector [Thuli Madonsela].
"We also welcome the investigation that has been ordered by the Minister of Police [Nathi Mthethwa], and we also welcome the fact that this morning the portfolio committee on justice and constitutional development interacted with the Public Protector.
Nel also welcomed statements made earlier in the House by various political parties, who expressed concern over the police action.
"We await the outcome of the investigation," he said.
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