The Head of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA)’s Investigative Directorate, Advocate Andrea Johnson has assured Parliament that they are pursuing the masterminds behind State Capture.
NPA top brass appeared before the Parliament’s Justice and Correctional Services committee to give another progress report on the implementation of the recommendation of the Zondo Commission.
The Investigating Directorate (ID) currently has six cases in court, while the Asset Forfeiture Unit has reported that it has preserved some R14 billion in State Capture assets.
Johnson says they are not only pursuing individuals, but institutions as well.
“Not only consultants and agents, we are also looking at banks who were enablers of State Capture. The Commission dealt with 17 such illicit flows, looking at a broad range of State Capture enablers.”
Public perception
The NPA has again emphasised that the public perception that the authority is not making progress on State Capture cases, is dangerous and untrue.
Deputy National Prosecuting Director, Advocate Rodney de Kock, says work is taking place. “The narrative NPA doing nothing is dangerous and wrong. prosecution is taking place, and lots of work is being done. submit impunity no longer prevails.”
Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions for Operations, Strategy and Compliance, Advocate Anton du Plessis, adds that the NPA may not be moving as fast as it would like on state capture cases. But he says they have made significant progress.
Du Plessis has cautioned against unrealistic expectations.
Meanwhile, the NPA has also reported on its progress with regard to Truth and Reconciliation investigations. Currently, they are looking at about 130 matters.
While the committee has conceded that progress has been made, committee chairperson Bulelani Magwanishe says they are not satisfied with how the NPA is relaying this information.
“Yes, you have made progress to investigate. but not doing a good job of presenting it. Show us more of what you have done.”
