Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, has tabled the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment (NPA) Bill in Parliament after receiving approval from the cabinet.
“President Ramaphosa’s pronouncement in the State of the Nation Address will be realised once Parliament passes the amendment, making the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption a permanent feature of our anti-corruption law enforcement efforts. This move is aimed at ensuring the effective implementation of the recommendations of the State Capture Commission.
“The Investigative Directorate Against Corruption investigates corruption related crimes uncovered by the commission and the commissions of the South African Revenue Service and Public Investment Corporation,” the department said.
Lamola explained that the model presented in the amendment bill will pave the way for the NPA to use its experience to more effectively.
“Adopting a prosecution-led investigation model is the most effective way to prosecute crimes like corruption, as demonstrated by international best practices. This bill will allow the NPA to apply the experience gained from South Africa’s efforts to tackle high-level corruption,” he said.
The department called the amendment bill a “crucial step” in strengthening the prosecutorial body.
It said that over the last four years, the Investigative Directorate against corruption has:
- Enrolled 34 matters, with 203 accused.
- During the 2022-23 financial year, it enrolled 18 new matters and authorised 13 new investigations, totalling 97 matters authorized over the previous four years.
- The Directorate has also contributed significantly to the recovery of R2.5 billion, which was paid into the Criminal Asset Recovery Account.
“The bill is a significant step towards enhancing the NPA’s independence and ability to prosecute high-level crimes. It creates a specialised entity within the NPA, staffed with trained individuals who enjoy the requisite level of independence, resources, and security of tenure to tackle corruption head-on.
“Overall, this bill is a crucial step in strengthening South Africa's anti-corruption efforts and ensuring that those who engage in corrupt practices are held accountable for their actions,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
