The heads of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) have committed to cooperate in order to see that the masterminds and pawns of State Capture are apprehended and made to answer for their crimes before the full force of the law.
This is according to a joint statement released by the two organisations following Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s release of the State Capture Commission report’s last section.
“The final Zondo report provides additional impetus for increased cooperation and urgency in execution of respective NPA/DPCI mandates. Important progress has already been made: 86 investigations have been declared by the ID, 21 matters enrolled in court, and 65 accused persons are appearing in court on alleged state capture crimes.
“The NPA and DPCI recognise the damaging impact of corruption on the rule of law and South Africa’s development prospects. They recommit to enhancing collaboration and sharing of resources and expertise, to ensure the most effective prosecution-guided approach to these complex matters,” the statement read.
A joint task team between the NPA and the Hawks has been established to address the 150 recommendations and reports relevant to the two units.
With 86 investigations announced by the NPA’s Investigative Directorate (ID) and 21 cases filed in court, some of these are already receiving notice.
On charges of state capture, 65 accused people have appeared in court.
“Additional seminal matters will be enrolled before the end of September 2022. Seminal matters refer to cases involving the alleged architects of state capture, including influential persons and private sector actors, and/or large sums of money. These cases will be handled by a dedicated teams of investigators and prosecutors who have the necessary expertise in prosecution-guided processes involving complex matters.
“The teams will be sufficiently resourced and co-located either in the NPA or the DPCI offices. The NPA and DPCI are harnessing all their resources and expertise, reprioritising matters to ensure that state capture cases proceed as a matter of urgency in our commitment to ensure accountability and uphold the rule of law,” the statement read.