Can we trust the justice statistics?

Yesterday the Minister of Justice, Jeff Radebe, tabled a reply in Parliament relating to a question I submitted regarding the number of drug-related cases that have been withdrawn, are pending and in which judgment was obtained. The response was detailed and related to the last three years.

In response to a statement I issued, a spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nathi Mncube, stated on radio that he did not know where we got our figures from, as they do not keep detailed statistics on matters like this.

This statement is shocking. Either the Minister has given false information to Parliament or the spokesperson has misled the public. 

It raises serious questions about the reliability of the information and must be clarified immediately. Without accurate information it is simply not possible to adequately address the crime problem. 

I shall include this issue in my follow-up questions to the Minister in the interests of clarity. 

Statement issued by Debbie Schafer MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, November 6 2013

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