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COSATU welcomes Parliament’s adoption of the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill

13 March 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the National Council of Provinces’ adoption of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Amendment Bill. 

This is a progressive Bill enhancing the powers of the NPA by providing for the establishment of an Investigating Directorate against Corruption within the NPA to pursue and institute criminal proceedings on cases of serious, high-profile or complex corruption or commercial or financial crimes arising from the recommendations of commissions of inquiry. 

Parliament’s passage of this critical Bill is an important milestone by government, acting upon the sober recommendations of the Zondo Commission into State Capture.  It is a clear signal that the African National Congress’ efforts to cleanse and renew not only itself but also government and society at large, are gaining momentum.

The Bill also provides for the appointment of a retired judge to exercise oversight over the Directorate’s investigators and who will be tasked to deal with any persons interfering with investigators including those instances of any improper influence or interference, hindrance or obstruction, including political or any other, seeking to hinder investigations into instances of corruption.

The Federation hopes that this Bill and the establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption will provide a badly needed intervention for the NPA and the state against the cancer of corruption that is bleeding the fiscus of billions of Rands needed to provide public services to working class communities and that has become endemic across society.

If this Bill is to meet its progressive objectives, Treasury needs to adequately resource it.  There is no point of establishing a Directorate, if it won’t be allocated the personnel, resources and support it requires to fulfil its legal mandate.  The high rates of prosecutor vacancies, the long delays in courts’ processing cases and a painful decline in the South African Police Service headcount remain a cause of deep worry to the Federation.

It is critical government invest more in the state; as workers, society and the economy reap the benefits from well-resourced quality public services.

Issued by COSATU

For further information please contact:
Matthew Parks
Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator
Cell: 082 785 0687