Answer to Question #315275 in English for Mathews

Question

Section 179 of the Constitution of South Africa states that “a National Director of

Public Prosecutions, who is the head of the prosecuting authority; and is

appointed by the President”

Trace the different individuals who served as National Director of Public

Prosecutions (NDPP) since 1994 and their relationships with the various

Presidents at the time. In this light, discuss the “power” of the office of the NDPP

in relation to nepotism, corruption and state capture.

Answer 1

The National Prosecuting Authority has the power to: institute and conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the state; carry out any necessary functions incidental to instituting and conducting such criminal proceedings; and discontinue criminal proceedings. The National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) says it will not tolerate any acts of racism or nepotism following a picket by disgruntled prosecutors at its headquarters in Pretoria. Members of public sector union National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) on Friday accused the NPA of displaying favouritism, and racism against black prosecutors. According to an IOL report, grievances contained in the memorandum included racism, failure to increase salaries, and nepotism. The protesters outside the NPA offices held placards saying "Stop oppressing black prosecutors" and "Victimisation and nepotism in the NPA must end".

he Constitution of South Africa provides the NPA with the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the state, to carry out any necessary functions incidental to institutional of criminal proceedings and to discontinue criminal proceedings. However, NPA is reluctant by allowing racism, nepotism and favouritism to happen.