PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 4: Newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi during the announcement of her appointment at the Union Buildings on November 4, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. Batohi, who is the first woman to be appointed the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), will start her new role in February next year. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)
NPA receives nearly R10m from German government to fight corruption
The German government pledged R9.5 million towards the NPA’s mission to achieve public credibility, independence, professionalism and accountability.
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 4: Newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi during the announcement of her appointment at the Union Buildings on November 4, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. Batohi, who is the first woman to be appointed the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), will start her new role in February next year. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)
National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi, has been given a helping hand from the German government to create a structure whereby the public will be able to lodge complaints about any allegation of improper conduct involving National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) staff.
GERMAN GOVERNMENT PLEDGES NEARLY R9.5 MILLION FOR FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
The Government of Germany has pledged about R9.5 million (EUR 500 000) towards Batohi’s critical drive to achieve the NPA’s strategic pillars of public credibility, independence, professionalism and accountability.
The envisaged structure, which is provided for in the NPA Act, will give direct access to her office by members of the public to report any misdemeanour involving members of the NPA.
“Over a decade or so the NPA was entangled in allegations of ‘state capture’ as some of its prominent members were accused of being appointed into leadership positions to weaken the NPA and to act in the interest of certain political and personal influences,” the statement read.
“These allegations and perceptions of politically-motivated changes in leadership and the allegations of impropriety against some of its senior leaders led to an exodus of skilled staff, the freezing of new appointments, as well as a virtual end to its professional development and training programmes,” it added.
During Batohi’s appointment in December 2018, the NDPP committed to restore the credibility of the NPA and earn to regain the respect the institution once enjoyed. Further, she undertook “to rebuild and lead a trusted and effective prosecution service that ensures justice to all South Africans through independent, professional and victim-centred service delivery.”
The new structure will be implemented through technical assistance provided by the Institute for Security Studies.
MORE THAN 200 OFFICIALS CONVICTED BY THE NPA
Around this time last year, the NPA announced that, under Batohi’s leadership, 210 government officials were brought to book.
“The NPA is dedicated to contributing to the fight against corruption. To this end, 17 persons were convicted of corruption where the amount involved is more than R5m whilst 210 government officials and 143 private persons were convicted for offences related to corruption,” the NPA said.
“This report covers a period prior to my taking office as the National Director of Public Prosecutions, marked by allegations of improper conduct by members of the leadership and possible complicity in state capture, which have emerged in the various commissions of enquiry, in particular the state capture commission led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. This has resulted in serious damage to the NPA’s reputation and credibility,” said Batohi.
Now in 2020, amid numerous scandals and tender corruption, we look forward to what the NPA has up its sleeve.
