Examining the NPA’s delay in prosecuting

high-profile cases

SABC Morning Live | In conversation with Hennie Van Vuuren, Executive Director of Open Secrets | 7 December 2021

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Advocate Shamila Batohi says the NPA is not in a crisis and there is no widespread sabotage of the Investigative Directorate (ID) or of the institution as a whole. Addressing the departure of the ID head Advocate Hermione Cronje, Batohi said there is nothing sinister about Cronje vacating office, and the institution has supported her departure. Answering questions about the delay in dealing with cases, Batohi said the NPA does have capacity to prosecute certain complex and high crime cases, however, the nature of the state capture cases requires additional, specialized skills and capacities. Last week Accountability Now threatened to take the NPA and its head advocate Shamila Batohi to court to force her to investigate and prosecute high-profile cases.

Open Secrets Executive Director, Hennie Van Vuuren, joins SABC Morning Live virtually to discuss.