NPA launches recruitment drive to fill 268 vacant positions
Image: Ntswe Mokoena / GCIS
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi on Tuesday said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was currently in a drive to fill 268 vacant posts that were at various recruitment processes at the end of May 2025.
Responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces, Kubayi said the NPA's staff complement has expanded by 34% since 2019 and has a substantially reduced vacancy rate.
'In the current format, human capacity, the head count is 5,513 permanent employees, an additional 327 appointed on fixed-term contracts, and 3,562 prosecutors who are permanently employed, and 289 are prosecutors who are appointed on contract.
'In the past financial year alone, the NPA has been able to appoint 728 permanent prosecutors and also 685 contract appointments,' she said.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
Kubayi also said the NPA has moved from an annual performance of 50% in the 2020/21 financial year to 73% in 2023/24.
'The upward performance trajectory saw the NPA making a considerable contribution towards the Medium Term Development Plan for 2019-2024 in terms of improving on conviction rates in all court orders and attaining R11 billion in freezing orders against a target of R10.4 billion.'
She stated that the NPA has been allocated R6.1 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, with R5.2 billion to be spent on compensation of employees and over R830 million on goods and services.
'It is projected that the NPA will be able to conclude and utilise this budget effectively. I must indicate, in some of the instances, we are able to pull from the Criminal Asset Recovery Account fund to support some of the work, and the Minister of Finance has been very supportive of the NPA in terms of ensuring financial resources.'
Kubayi said prosecutors are undergoing continuous training and development in various aspects.
'Currently in the financial year, we have scheduled 148 training programmes and 10 have already taken place with 60 employees benefiting from this.'
The minister added that they were consistently reviewing the capacity and the training needs for all areas, especially in dealing with specialised commercial and corruption-related matters.
'We have done the study that provides a picture of levels of capacity where it resides and amongst the prosecutors. Out of this review study, we'll be able to feel where the gaps are and in the areas where there are complex, organised crime, complex commercial crimes, including corruption, we're able to close those gaps.'
Kubayi said there were lessons to be learned from the failed prosecution of Timothy Omotoso and Moroadi Cholota, former personal assistant of former Free State premier Ace Magashule.
'More work can be done, but support and providing oversight over some of the cases. A lot of work is being done and over time where there is shortage of capacity, for example, we are able to source even external capacity to come and support the NPA.'
Kubayi also stated that the current workload per prosecutor in lower courts was split between the work of the district court and the regional court.
'The outstanding cases per prosecutor in the district court amount to 80 cases per prosecutor. The outstanding cases per prosecutor in the regional court amount to 53 cases. Apart from the criminal court work, prosecutors in both district and regional courts have dealt on average with 207 decision dockets in the past financial year.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
40 minutes ago
- IOL News
Doubts surround potential probe into allegations of police corruption
Political analyst warns of systemic corruption in South Africa's police force Image: File/Archive Questions are mounting over the likelihood and sincerity of any investigation into allegations raised by KZN police head General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, amid concerns about political bias and systemic corruption. Independent political analyst Joe Mhlanga expressed scepticism about the current political climate, suggesting that entrenched interests may compromise justice. This was after Mkhwanazi made shocking claims alleging serious corruption involving a network of criminals, drug lords, police Minister Senzo Mchunu and National deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Mhlanga pointed to the broader pattern of impunity among those aligned with the president, citing the foreign currency hidden under the couches at Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm. 'We might have seen the report from the Public Protector that cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing, but if you look at the laws, laws-particularly the banking regulations, and the facts surrounding the arrest of a young woman found with over a million US dollars, the picture becomes murky," stated Mhlanga. 'She was arrested around the same time President Ramaphosa was cleared of any misconduct, despite allegations that his house contained more foreign currency than legally permissible. This raises serious questions about the integrity of these investigations.' 'There's a clear tendency for people close to him to avoid repercussions. If those around him continue to shield misconduct, it suggests that corruption is deeply rooted and unlikely to be addressed unless there's a major shift.' He further criticised the political establishment's reliance on the police and justice mechanisms to protect allies rather than uphold the rule of law. 'South African politicians seem to view the Ministry of Police as a tool to shield their own, rather than a public institution to serve justice. Appointments within the police, judiciary, and prosecutorial agencies appear based on loyalty rather than merit, making it almost impossible to hold powerful figures accountable.' Mhlanga also highlighted concerns about President Ramaphosa's pattern of appointing close allies to key positions. 'He ensures that those in critical roles, including the Chief Justice, police chiefs, and NPA officials, are aligned with him. This significantly reduces the chances of any internal investigations leading to his downfall. It's a cycle of protection that has persisted for years, with past leaders and officials similarly shielded from scrutiny.' He warned that this systemic issue is unlikely to change unless there is a deliberate effort to break the cycle. 'Given the history and current appointments, it's clear that any investigation into Mchunu's actions will likely be managed and manipulated to produce a favourable outcome for him. The whole process seems orchestrated to prevent any real accountability.' Meanwhile, the African People's Convention (APC) has commended Mkhwanazi for his courageous stance against drug syndicates and political corruption within SAPS. In a Monday statement, the APC lauded Mkhwanazi and his team for their unwavering commitment to putting citizens' safety first. 'By openly revealing that drug cartels are the cancer within SAPS, and implicating powerful political figures and parliamentarians, General Mkhwanazi demonstrates that some officers are willing to stand against corruption,' the statement read. The party highlighted concerns over allegations that the Minister of Police is involved in undermining investigations, possibly to protect vested interests. 'The reported instructions to dismantle anti-crime units and the alleged links between the Minister and questionable entities point to a systemic capture of the police service,' the APC noted. 'This jeopardises the safety of our citizens and hampers efforts to fight crime effectively.' The APC also stressed the importance of accountability. 'There must be a thorough investigation into the Minister's conduct, whether through parliamentary inquiries or a judicial commission. The serious allegations of misleading parliament and illicit funding require urgent attention.' The party's president, Themba Godi, who previously served as SCOPA chair, reaffirmed their support for officers like Mkhwanazi. 'His integrity and discipline reflect the true spirit of policing. It's time for all citizens to support those in blue who risk their lives to defend justice and fight corruption.' Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Mangwenya did not respond to questions from IOL. [email protected] IOL Politics
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Correctional Services minister expected to explain 'bring back corporal punishment' proposal to portfolio committee
Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald stresses protecting vulnerable communities, especially women and children, by tightening parole approvals and urges honest dialogue on crime solutions, including revisiting corporal punishment despite its ban since 1996. Image: GCIS Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald will have to explain his recent suggestion that corporal punishment should be revisited to alleviate overcrowding in prisons when he appears before the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services on Tuesday morning. The minister made the remarks when delivering his budget vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday last week. Groenewald was addressing the challenges faced by correctional services, including overcrowding, dilapidated infrastructure, a rising number of remand detainees, deteriorating facilities, staff shortages, the presence of crime syndicates and gangs within our institutions, and emerging crime patterns. He said corporal punishment will help ease overcrowding in the country's prisons. Corporal punishment in South African schools was officially banned in 1996. 'If you look at our criminal justice system, and specifically justice, we must start a debate to say, shouldn't we bring back corporal punishment?' Groenewald said. 'A young person who steals 10 loaves of bread will sit in prison for perhaps three years waiting for sentencing. Go think (whether we should) bring it back... to address this issue,' Groenewald said in Afrikaans. During the briefing by the Peace and Security Cluster Committee Chairpersons on Monday, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, said that they will be expecting Groenewald to explain the rationale behind his remarks. She explained that there were largely legal milestones which led to the abolition of corporal punishment and that the decision to abolish it stemmed from a violation of human rights. 'What is my view? I believe that it is in the best interest of whoever is in the executive or whoever is in government to abide by the Constitution of the country. Why has the minister taken a step to say, we should perhaps open debates on corporal punishment? We have yet to be taken into (his) confidence, as the portfolio committee. 'I can assure you that tomorrow we do have a Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services meeting from 9.30am, and we will probe the minister on why he made those assertions, and what informs them? So that he takes us through that,' Ramolobeng said. 'There are other measures that we can try to deal with, or come up with alternatively, that must deal with overcrowding, outside of corporal punishment, especially of those who have less (serious) crimes that leads to them having bail of R300." Ramolobeng added that what could come out of the discussion on corporal punishment is perhaps one focused on community services for those who have committed petty crimes. 'Put more focus on rehabilitative outlined programmes that talk to the current challenges we are facing.' [email protected]
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Predator receives life for child's rape
Elphius Elias Shabangu (38) whom the Madadeni Regional Court described as cruel and inhumane has been jailed for life for the 2024 rape of an 11-year-old girl. Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional NPA spokesperson, said the little gril was raped near Theku Plaza in Madadeni while she and her siblings were selling sugarcane by the roadside during a visit to an aunt in the area. Shabangu approached the siblings asking them to go to a nearby shop, leaving him alone with the 11-year-old. He then forced her to a vacant house nearby, where he raped her twice before fleeing. When her siblings returned to the stand, they found that the victim was missing. Unfamiliar with the area, the victim struggled to find her way back to her aunt's house until a community member assisted her. 'Upon her return, she immediately told her aunt what had happened. Her aunt examined her, observing blood on her thighs and quickly reported the incident to the police, before the young girl was taken to Madadeni Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) for support,' Ramkisson-Kara said. Since Shabangu was unknown to the complainant, he was initially able to evade justice. However, a few months later, Shabangu was arrested in Mpumalanga in connection with the rape of two other minor children. His DNA ultimately linked him to the Madadeni case which led to his arrest. He pleaded guilty to all three counts of rape and while in Mpumalanga, he had already received two life sentences. In the Madadeni Regional Court, Prosecutor Khethiwe Kunene presented compelling testimony from the complainant's aunt, who told the court her niece had become withdrawn and fearful since the incident. Shabangu was give a life sentence and declared him unfit to possess a firearm. His name will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders. Shabangu's attorney applied for the Madadeni life sentence to run concurrently with his Mpumalanga sentences. However, the presiding officer denied the application, stating that this would make Shabangu eligible for parole after only 25 years. The court emphasised that Shabangu did not deserve this opportunity, given his cruel and inhumane actions towards young, innocent children. 'The imposition of the life sentence and the court's refusal of Shabangu's application underscores the gravity of his crimes. Sexual offences will not be tolerated in our society and will be met with the full force of the law. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the rule of law and pursue justice for victims of crime, especially the most vulnerable,' concluded Ramkisson-Kara. The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550). At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
