South Africa : NPA celebrates 10 years of crime-fighting existence

By Michael Appel

Pretoria - Established in its entirety in 1998 out of Section 179 (1) of the Constitution, 10 years on and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has gained a reputation as a formidable crime fighting force in South Africa.

According to the NPA, the South African society post-1994 has been marked by profound political changes and the establishment of progressive legislation, policies and programs that have served to lay the basis for a new society.

Given the inequality and poverty that resulted from the apartheid system, it was necessary to begin to address this legacy in a coherent manner, said the NPA, adding priority was thus given to transformation and the deracialisation of the economy.

A key milestone in South Africa's history has been the adoption of the new Constitution in 1996 that outlined the formation of the NPA.

Another important milestone within the Criminal Justice System (CJS) was the formation of the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, established on 1 August 1998.

Legislation governing the prosecuting authority is the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act No. 32 of 1998).

"The Constitution, read with the said Act, provides the prosecuting authority with the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the State and to carry out any necessary functions incidental to instituting criminal proceedings.

"Over the years, various units have been added, resulting in a formidable prosecuting and crime fighting force that has made its mark on the South African scene and has gained a formidable reputation as a professional organisation," the NPA said, Thursday.

While the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights, has provided the blueprint, the translation of this into particular spheres of implementation remains a challenge, the organisation highlighted.

For employees of constitutional bodies such as the NPA whose mandate emanates from the Constitution and who are entrusted with strengthening the country's democracy, there is an even greater need to intensify the fight against crime.

Over the years the NPA has been involved in ground-breaking work in bringing criminals to book and precedent-setting cases that have struck a cord with the nation as a whole.

The NPA recently adopted five new values and the occasion of the Ten Year Anniversary celebration on Friday, the NPA said, will be used to publicise these to create awareness of the seriousness and the ethical underpinnings of the work of the organisation and its employees.

"This should create a heightened self-awareness and the adoption of a fully-fledged institutional culture that needs to be shared with others.

"This culture within the NPA will seek to promote integrity in its dealings internally and externally," said the NPA. - BuaNews