The National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi, says a lot of work is being done to restore the image of the NPA. Batohi was speaking during the Aspirant Prosecutor Programme’s graduation ceremony in Pretoria on Monday.
The institution has faced criticism over its inability to secure convictions for some of the major high profile corruption cases.
Over 300 prosecutors from the 2023 intake completed their training programme. The graduation of these prosecutors comes at a crucial time when public confidence in the justice system is low.
“I am proud of myself. This means a lot to me and we, as the prosecutors, are the ones that can restore public confidence in the criminal justice system. We have been instilled with a courage to uphold the rule of law and serve without fear,” a prosecutor said.
“I believe in myself that I can be put in court, and I can argue a case. I can strategise, I can think with chronology. I can know when to apply certain logic, and this was through the investment that the NPA has made to us,” another prosecutor explains.
The National Prosecuting Authority is confident that more state cases will be enrolled in courts.
“We can’t deny that things happened in our country that should have would never happen. And the reality is that it also affected the NPA. And so, we have in the past five years been working tirelessly to rebuild the NPA, to be an entity where one of us can truly be proud of being prosecutors, standing for justice. There’s been a lot of work that’s gone into that. We’re not out of the woods yet and there’s still a lot of work to do,” says Batomi.
Deputy Minister Of Justice and Constitutional Development encouraged new prosecutors to deliver justice without fear.
“The NPA, as the lawyers for the people, must deliver and serve justice without fear or favour, promote a culture of public responsibility, accountability and morality. Ensure public confidence in the criminal justice system. Contribute to the growth of the South African economy and contribute to social development if they lose confidence in us, they will take justice into their hands,” Andries Nel, Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister.
Graduates say they want to do is serve the country without prejudice and serve the country’s legal system with pride.
