Restoring trust through accountability - a priority for the NPA
Date: 2014-08-06
Time: 11:00 to 11:30
Venue: Call +27 11 535 3600 at 10h55 and ask for the operator for the ISS Briefing
RSVP: Call +27 11 535 3600 at 10h55 and ask for the operator for the ISS Briefing
The National Prosecuting Authority is a powerful part of the criminal justice system, affecting public safety and the lives of criminal and victims. It is essential that the NPA is visibly independent and accountable, and is seen to act without fear, favour or prejudice.
Yet the NPA suffers from a lack of public trust and its performance has suffered as a result of political appointments and controversy, including decisions not to prosecute President Jacob Zuma and other high-profile people.
Unlike the police and prisons service, the NPA has no dedicated independent mechanism to ensure accountability and to scrutinise its performance. The ISS has undertaken several studies into the NPA and on Wednesday releases a paper looking at mechanisms to restore trust and make the institution accountable to the people it is supposed to serve.
In South Africa, a prosecutor’s authority to not prosecute is powerful and open to abuse. When the decision is wielded in politically sensitive matters on weak grounds, it appears that the prosecution service is not acting independently.
The ISS briefing will touch on prosecution review commissions, used in countries like Japan, which can expose instances in which political heavyweights, organised criminals and business elites are protected from prosecution. Speakers will look at accountability mechanisms which currently work in other countries; and how these mechanisms should ensure that prosecutors face punitive consequences if they abuse their power.
Speakers:
- Gareth Newham (Head, Governance, Crime and Justice division, ISS)
- Martin Schönteich (National Criminal Justice Reform Programme, Open Society Justice Initiative, Washington DC)
For media interviews and further information contact:
Jonathon Rees
[email protected]
+27 76 185 1827
