Dearth of investigating skills among reasons for delays in prosecuting big corruption cases, SCOPA hears
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) were all before Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Wednesday to explain the perceived delays.
(From left to right) SIU head Andy Mothibi, National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, and Hawks divisional commissioner, Patrick Mbotho, appeared before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on 18 June 2025. Picture: Lindsay Dentlinger/EWN
CAPE TOWN - The complexity of the cases, the lack of skills to investigate them, and the frequent legal challenges by the accused have been cited among the reasons for the time it's taking to secure prosecutions in high-profile corruption cases.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) were all before Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) on Wednesday to explain the perceived delays.
Chairperson of the committee, Songezo Zibi, said that MPs were desperate to understand why it was taking so long to prosecute state capture and other big corruption matters.
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Three years since the Zondo commission of inquiry was finalised, only four matters are before the courts.
Spending a second consecutive day in Parliament on Wednesday, NPA head, Shamila Batohi, said that despite the dozens of cases referred to the authority, there was a dearth of investigating skills to build cases that could be brought before the courts.
"I don’t think we can underestimate what happened in terms of trying to weaken institutions during state capture, the Hawks being one of them. The fact that they’re working at 50% capacity is simply unacceptable."
Batohi added that the fear whistleblowers had for their safety and that of their families were also a real concern in furthering matters.
"To get witnesses to come forward to testify... testifying in a commission like the Zondo Commission is very different to testifying in a criminal case, where there are consequences to people’s assets and their freedom."
Batohi said that the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) was piloting a newly established digital evidence unit using private sector skills to speed up cases.