Towards the end of 2023, then MP Christian Msimang asked the justice and correctional services minister if there were plans to reinstate the Aspirant Prosecutor Programme in 2024.
The response was that the group that had been trained could not be absorbed into the NPA and be appointed into entry-level district court posts, as has been the tradition.
The minister said the severe budget cuts expected over the three budgetary years would have a “devastating effect for the NPA, to the extent that it will be a struggle to even cover the salaries of existing staff”.
If one considers this response, along with that of then police minister Bheki Cele in May to questions from the DA, in which he revealed that more than 5-million case dockets had been closed over six years due to insufficient evidence or leads, it is little wonder that the justice, crime prevention and security cluster is struggling.
On Friday, we reported that the conviction rate for gang-related murders in the Bay’s northern areas stood at 43.66% for the past six financial years.
Though the overall conviction rate for murders in the Eastern Cape is much higher, at 83.6%, the northern areas statistic is concerning.
Gqeberha’s deputy director of public prosecutions, advocate Indra Goberdan, said statistics on gang-related murders were not kept. All murders were grouped together.
She said there were many reasons for acquittals in gang cases.
“Often you find that the murders take place at night, the lighting is not good, identity might be a problem and often our witnesses have a vested interest in the conviction of the accused and there may be reasons for them to see an accused acquitted.
“There are many reasons and it is not just confined to gang-related cases,” Goberdan said.
It is clear that there is a problem in the northern areas — residents live in fear, witnesses are targeted in some instances and the police struggle to get co-operation from the community.
But it boils down to a countrywide problem of inadequate resources for the police and NPA.
No prosecutor can secure a conviction without proper investigation work from the police.
Equally, if the police are not well-resourced and have to juggle massive caseloads, we cannot expect them to do their work well.
The police and NPA need more money to be able to fight crime.
To expect good results without giving them the necessary tools and support is asking them to perform miracles.
HeraldLIVE
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