Please find attached soundbite by Adv. Glynnis Breytenbach MP.
- Section 8 of the of the NPA Amendment Act will commence on 1 March 2026.
- It allows for a retired judge to investigate complaints against the Investigating Directorate within the NPA.
- The DA welcomes this, but warns against a delay in the appointment and a lack of capacity.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the determination by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi that Section 8 of the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act 10 of 2024 will commence on 1 March 2026. This section directs the Minister to appoint a retired judge to investigate allegations of improper conduct, impropriety or prejudice by members of the Investigating Directorate (ID) within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The commencement of this section will play a vital role in strengthening oversight and accountability within the NPA. The DA emphasises that it is critical that the appointment of said retired judge is made without delay, and stresses the importance that such office is adequately capacitated.
The creation of this office as an oversight mechanism within the NPA will add to the credibility of the ID as a crime-fighting unit.
The DA has long called for increased capacity at the NPA so that crime rates can be brought down and South Africans can feel safe, and this appointment is much needed. A society plagued by crime cannot grow its economy or keep its citizens safe. A credible Investigating Directorate within the NPA will play a crucial role in the prosecution of crime at all levels.