Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says any possible restructuring of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been deferred pending the finalisation of what the cluster must first conclude.
Speaking during a reply to a Parliamentary debate on the Presidency's Budget Vote on Thursday, Zuma said the Justice Crime Peace and Security cluster is in the process of negotiating its delivery agreement.
He said ministers are still to conclude delivery agreements within their clusters and that these detailed delivery agreements will clarify roles, mandates, resources and other critical information.
"We urge Honourable Members to bear with us while we conclude this groundbreaking process which will truly change the way government works. We will put the interests of the country and the Constitution first in going about this very important task of ensuring that justice is dispensed fairly," Zuma said.
Members of the opposition should give ministers an opportunity to complete their performance agreement with the President. There has been a call for the agreements to be made public, but Zuma said the process was still underway.
Zuma said Minister in the Presidency for Performance and Monitoring Collins Chabane is still to negotiate delivery agreements with all partners that are responsible for a particular outcome, and these would be concluded by July.
Meanwhile, Zuma called on political leaders to work towards the promotion of national unity and social cohesion.
He strongly dispelled any notion that minority groups lived in fear in South Africa, as suggested by one leader of the opposition.
"We reiterate that we must discourage anyone, regardless of their grievances, who tries to take our country back to the divisive past of racism and division," Zuma said.
During the debate on Wednesday, FF Plus leader Pieter Mulder claimed many South Africans experience uncertainty with regards to the future of the country, citing crime and racial tensions. But Zuma cautioned against anyone, regardless of their grievances, who tries to take the country back to the divisive past of racism and division.
"South Africans both black and white have accepted each other as compatriots and live in harmony in the country of their birth. South Africans are optimistic about this country," Zuma said.
He said despite the challenges the country was facing, South Africans remained hopeful that things will get better each day.
It was the responsibility of leaders to nurture that hope and work together to create a positive climate in which people can work together, and in which the country can succeed and thrive.
"We must all make all our people comfortable and secure and not seek to make one section of society insecure, for example by exaggerating fears of the minority community," said Zuma
