NPA Amendment Act ineffective against corruption, DA to introduce an anti-corruption Bill with real teeth
19 August 2024
The President has announced the commencement of the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act, which will see the Investigative Directorate (ID) be made a permanent feature within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
While the Act is a small step in the right direction towards addressing the issues of the fight against corruption, this piece of legislation is merely a temporary solution to the far greater and pressing issues that have resulted in the lethargic pace at which those responsible for state capture and organised crime are being held to account.
The establishment of a permanent ID by the Amendment Act does not achieve much in tackling corruption. The Amendment Act fails to address real problems within the NPA - its lack of sufficient appropriate skills and funding. The Scorpions, which the Act attempts to replicate, were effective because they had access to excellent and experience prosecutors and effective investigators. For the NPA to make these changes it needs to receive an appropriate budget.
The Amendment Act does nothing to remove the Minister’s spectre of control over the NPA, as they still exercise the final responsibility over the NPA and control its budget or lack there-of.