STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, DULLAH OMAR ON THE NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS IN KWAZULU NATAL 27 NOVEMBER 1998
Over the past few months the Department of Justice in conjunction with the newly-established Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions and its director, Mr Bulelani Ngcuka, has been engaged in an extensive process of transforming South Africa's prosecution.
This programme of transformation is focusing on achieving representivity at all levels in terms of race and gender, effecting both institutional and attitudinal transformation while also ensuring that South Africa's justice system is equal, fair and user-friendly.
The prosecuting authority has been a particular area of concern because the morale of prosecutors is low and this arm of the judicial system has suffered from a number of structural problems. Moreover, as has been the case in Kwazulu Natal, prosecutors have not always enjoyed the support or trust of the community. They have, therefore, been severely hampered in their duty of successfully prosecuting those involved in criminal activity, a situation which has for too long proved a weak link in the fight against crime.
In terms of the prosecuting authority, a thorough evaluation has been made of its current strengths and weaknesses and a detailed programme has been designed to overhaul the prosecution service and create a dynamic body of skilled professionals which will effectively dispense justice.
Over the past few months, a number of key appointments have been made in the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The chief priorities of this office which need urgent attention have also been identified. These include gang-related activity in the Western Cape, organised crime in Gauteng and politically-motivated violence in Kwazulu Natal.
As far as the latter is concerned, a special unit under the leadership of advocate Chris MacAdam, consisting of highly-skilled people who will dedicate their time to the investigation and prosecution of all cases linked to KwaZulu Natal's political violence, has already been established.
I am happy to announce that another milestone in the transformation of the public prosecutions authority has been reached with the appointment of advocate Joseph Mokotedi Mpshe as the new Director Prosecutions in Kwazulu Natal. Advocate Mpshe has been chosen due to his fine track record and solid legal background.
Advocate Mpshe has worked for the Department of Justice in the former Bophuthatswana, where he served as regional prosecutor, district and regional magistrate and chief magistrate. He has lectured in the Faculty of Law at Vista University an, in 1992, was admitted to the Pretoria Bar. In 1994 he started to practice law full-time. Between 1994 and 1995 advocate Mpshe served as chairperson of the Mabopane Negotiating Forum. In 1995 he served on the Commission of Enquiry into the Mutinous Conduct of Prison Warders of Mogwase Prison. In 1996 advocate Mpshe took up the position of Chief Leader of Evidence for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and has handled some of the most important cases brought before the TRC, including the amnesty applications of Clive Derby Lewis and Janusz Walus, who murdered Chris Hani.
I am confident that advocate's Mpshe's appointment will further help transform the beleagured Kwazulu Natal arm of the Directorate of National Public Prosecutions. This office is facing a number of challenges, topmost of which is to re-establish its credibility with the community it serves and to ensure that justice is successfully carried out in this province.
The violence which has plagued Kwazulu Natal threatens the very fabric of South African society as well as our fledgling democracy. But, I am confident that, together with the special unit which has been created to investigate this violence and prosecute the perpetrators of this violence, advocate Mpshe will be able to win the trust of the community he serves and will professionally and successfully deal with all the challenges which his office faces in this province.
I offer him my full support.
For further information please contact Paul Setsetse on 0832524770.