Justice Department fires 54 officials in sweeping disciplinary drive
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has fired 54 officials as part of a major internal disciplinary crackdown, marking a decisive move to reinforce integrity and accountability within the public service.
In a statement released Monday, the Department said it had dealt with 223 labour-related cases in the 2024/25 financial year. Of those, 164 have been finalized resulting in dozens of dismissals, suspensions, and various disciplinary actions.
The dismissals, the Department noted, were linked to charges ranging from corruption and maladministration to fraud, theft, dishonesty, and gross misconduct.
Between January and April 2025 alone, 15 officials were dismissed, indicating a quicker turnaround in processing serious cases.
In total, outcomes included 41 suspensions, 15 resignations, 4 acquittals, and 4 withdrawals. Other matters concluded with verbal, written, or final warnings, depending on the severity of each case.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi welcomed the developments, stating that rooting out unethical behaviour is essential to maintaining the credibility of the justice system and ensuring access to justice for all.
“This sends a strong message to those who think they can defraud or corrupt the Department we are watching, and we will act,” Kubayi said.
She praised the Department’s swift handling of cases, arguing that the notion of a sluggish public service is being dispelled by concrete action. “This is evidence that the state can act decisively when it comes to accountability.”
