JOHANNESBURG - The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is calling for closer cooperation with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks as concerns grow over the low number of corruption cases that progress to registered criminal dockets.
The SIU says that, since 2011, it has referred 5,944 cases to the prosecuting authority. Yet only about 10 percent have resulted in registered criminal dockets, raising questions about the country’s ability to convert lengthy corruption investigations into successful criminal prosecutions.
SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the issue was discussed during a joint presentation to Parliament on Tuesday, where the three law-enforcement entities were able to openly compare their experiences and identify where cases were getting stuck.
“On Tuesday, we did indicate the correct amount, which is 5,944 cases since 2011 that have been referred to the prosecuting authority,” Makgotho said.
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He said the engagement with Parliament provided an opportunity for the institutions to understand each other’s challenges and identify areas where there was little or no movement on cases.
According to Makgotho, the SIU was able to explain the volume of cases it had referred over the past 15 years, while the NPA and the Hawks also outlined the challenges they face in taking matters forward.
The three institutions have now agreed to establish joint working teams that will meet monthly to monitor cases, address blockages and ensure that there is a clearer focus on matters requiring attention.
Makgotho said several agreements and mechanisms between the entities already exist, but the aim is now to strengthen and formalise these arrangements so that the institutions work together more consistently.
“For us, 5,000 is a lot. It’s a lot,” he said, adding that the fact that only about 10 percent of the referrals had translated into registered criminal dockets should be a concern for all three institutions.
The new monthly working teams are expected to provide a platform for the SIU, NPA and Hawks to conduct comparative assessments, track the progress of cases and identify obstacles before investigations effectively hit a dead end.