subscribe Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Subscribe now
Picture: 123RF
Picture: 123RF

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to sign the National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Bill into law. The bill claims to strengthen the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and reintroduce the Investigative Directorate (ID) on corruption, similar to the Scorpions.

What the ANC is not telling you is that the bill does nothing to address the issues of independence within the NPA or the control of the minister of justice, which ultimately led to the body being captured by maligned actors.

It also fails to mention that the ID has no protection from facing the same fate as the Scorpions. Parliament can disband the ID if it ever tries to prosecute the political elites.

What we need is a truly independent body, one that is not controlled by the minister, reports only to parliament and enjoys a security of tenure. This is what Accountability Now has called for and what the Constitutional Court has ruled on.

The DA is the only party that is taking this on with its Anti-Corruption Commission Bill, ticking all the constitutional requirements for a properly independent body. This is the real Scorpions 2.0 and a far better alternative to the ANC’s proposal.

Lerato Ndlovu
Stellenbosch

JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.

subscribe Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.