National director of public prosecutions Shamila Batohi says criminals have ramped up their attacks against the institution.
She said there were people on trial who were accusing the National Prosecuting Authority of being used as a weapon to discredit their political and business aspirations.
Addressing 600 graduates of the Aspirant Prosecutor Programme at the NPA headquarters in Pretoria, Batohi told the group that will join the ranks of prosecutors in district courts across the country that they had to vigorously prosecute corruption, gender-based violence and to do so independently.
“Those who fear justice the most are ramping up their attacks on the rule of law and the NPA. Some of them are driving the public narrative that prosecutions are being driven to discredit certain people’s political and even business ambitions.
“In this context of political and grand corruption and even in the business sector, exercising prosecution functions fearlessly and independently becomes of paramount necessity.
“Defending such independence requires as prosecutors we uphold the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of our lives, not just when we’re at work but even in our private lives and socials to ensure we always adhere to code of conduct.
“As long as you do that as NDPP I will always have your back but if you don’t we will have a fair process as there’s no place for corrupt and dishonest prosecutors,” Batohi said.
0 of 4
Batohi said the new crop of prosecutors would be exposed and put in the specialised units such as the Investigative Directorate and the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
“We want them to be exposed to and learn from the more experienced prosecutors in terms of how to deal with more complex matters. What we’re doing is building capacity in the NPA and not just the normal courts across the country but specialised units,” she said.
One of the graduates, Makhanda district court prosecutor Sipho Makuzeni said becoming a prosecutor was about passion rather than making money.
“We were told about being approached for money about making cases go away and for me, this is not about amassing wealth but passion and what will make it easy for someone to approach you is if you want to amass money in the wrong kind of ways.
“I’ve experienced such prosecutors before I became one and it worried me because these are meant to be pioneers of justice. It highlighted to me if you choose to be here it’s not about money but growth,” he said.
On the criticism of justice moving slowly, Makuzeni said it was warranted, but added that the NPA didn't work in isolation but worked with law enforcement arms such as investigators, lawyers who all needed to play their parts to get prosecutable cases before magistrates.
“Criticism may be warranted because we're living in an era where corruption is rife but all stakeholders play a role in the system. When the wheels are turning slowly, it’s not something that can be solely blamed on the NPA. For instance, you’ve got a complainant who opens and closes cases,” he said.
Touching on the backlog of cases sitting in courts, Potchefstroom district prosecutor Nathasia Oeschger said load shedding had negatively impacted on the pace at which courts worked.
“There are no windows in our courts and if there’s load shedding from 10am-12:30pm you can’t work because there’s little to no light.
“Everyday we’re in court, there’s also a new case that's being opened and I don't think people realise the impact this has on the NPA or the courts, which adds to the backlog of cases,” Oeschger said.
Justice and correctional minister Ronald Lamola was also in attendance and described prosecutors as the engine of the criminal justice system, adding that without their commitment and dedication, the rule of law would be destined to fail.
nkosin@sowetan.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.