FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Johannesburg, Wednesday, 03 April 2024 - Public Interest SA Applauds the Judiciary and Calls for Swift Prosecution and End to Preferential Treatment – Public Interest SA acknowledges and commends the decision of National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to resign from her position. Her resignation comes in the wake of the Pretoria high court's dismissal of her attempt to impede her arrest and prosecution by the National Prosecution Authority.
Mapisa-Nqakula, as one of the most senior members of parliament, faces serious allegations of misconduct in a democratic state. As the leader of a legislative branch tasked with crafting and upholding the nation's laws, her alleged transgressions stand in stark contradiction to the fundamental principles of justice and the rule of law.
While we welcome Mapisa-Nqakula’s resignation and the impending legal proceedings against her, we express our concern over the sluggish pace at which the NPA has addressed the multitude of allegations against her, some of which have been circulating for years, particularly during her tenure as defence minister.
Regrettably, the controversy surrounding her impending arrest and prosecution has shed light on the existence and persistence of a dual criminal justice system, wherein prominent politicians often receive preferential treatment from law enforcement authorities.
Public Interest SA appreciates the judicial excoriation directed at Mapisa-Nqakula’s seeming entitlement to preferential treatment but remains deeply troubled by the NPA's apparent leniency towards high-profile individuals. Such practices not only undermine the foundational principles of equality and fairness but also erode public trust in the criminal justice system.
We, along with the majority of South Africans, eagerly anticipate the prosecution and conviction of Mapisa-Nqakula and any implicated contractors accused of corruption and other serious offenses within the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. Those responsible for corruption within the department exacerbate the dire state of its infrastructure, which directly impacts funding for the military and the provision of essential services.
We call upon the NPA to conduct thorough and impartial investigations, devoid of any influence or bias, when handling cases involving prominent politicians entangled in the criminal justice system. It is imperative that impunity be eradicated, and justice be served without exception.
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