ActionSA welcomes news of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) subpoenaing the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to gain access to all the relevant evidence that emanated from the R1 billion State Capture Commission of Inquiry in order to finalise long overdue prosecutions.
ActionSA vociferously supports the NPA’s pursuit in this regard so that we may prosecute these high-profile matters and begin the work to restore confidence in our criminal justice system.
On 10 September 2024 the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Adv Shamila Batohi, revealed that despite assurances from the Department of Justice and the former Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, who committed to provide them such access in 2022, the NPA is in fact hindered from accessing vital evidence, both physical and digital, necessary to advance state capture prosecutions.
The NDPP emphasised to the Portfolio Committee that to fulfil its mandate, particularly through the Investigative Directorate (ID), the NPA requires unhindered access to state capture evidence, which includes hard drives, physical documents, and digital records.
It is crucial that the ID’s investigators have the autonomy to access evidence without being hampered by excessive red tape, particularly as investigations often involve uncertain or evolving evidence needs that cannot be predefined through formal requests.
At a cost of R100 million, the critical database from the State Capture Commission, which itself cost taxpayers R1 billion, represents the most substantial investment made in justice, and thus, we believe that any attempt to obstruct efforts to hold those implicated in state capture accountable must be met with firm resistance from all who uphold the rule of law.
It is our hope that the newly minted Minister of Justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi, will do what her predecessors have failed to do and furnish the NPA with this evidence without further litigation to save the state time and money.
“It’s important that Batohi, whose term of office will end soon, succeeds in prosecuting at least one high profile state capture case before she leaves office”, said Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, “else she will leave behind no legacy to be proud of.”
ActionSA Welcomes News of NPA Filing Subpoena for “Unfettered Access” to State Capture Evidence
ActionSA welcomes news of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) subpoenaing the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to gain access to all the relevant evidence that emanated from the R1 billion State Capture Commission of Inquiry in order to finalise long overdue prosecutions.
ActionSA vociferously supports the NPA’s pursuit in this regard so that we may prosecute these high-profile matters and begin the work to restore confidence in our criminal justice system.
On 10 September 2024 the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Adv Shamila Batohi, revealed that despite assurances from the Department of Justice and the former Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, who committed to provide them such access in 2022, the NPA is in fact hindered from accessing vital evidence, both physical and digital, necessary to advance state capture prosecutions.
The NDPP emphasised to the Portfolio Committee that to fulfil its mandate, particularly through the Investigative Directorate (ID), the NPA requires unhindered access to state capture evidence, which includes hard drives, physical documents, and digital records.
It is crucial that the ID’s investigators have the autonomy to access evidence without being hampered by excessive red tape, particularly as investigations often involve uncertain or evolving evidence needs that cannot be predefined through formal requests.
At a cost of R100 million, the critical database from the State Capture Commission, which itself cost taxpayers R1 billion, represents the most substantial investment made in justice, and thus, we believe that any attempt to obstruct efforts to hold those implicated in state capture accountable must be met with firm resistance from all who uphold the rule of law.
It is our hope that the newly minted Minister of Justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi, will do what her predecessors have failed to do and furnish the NPA with this evidence without further litigation to save the state time and money.
“It’s important that Batohi, whose term of office will end soon, succeeds in prosecuting at least one high profile state capture case before she leaves office”, said Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President, “else she will leave behind no legacy to be proud of.”