NPA and Hawks to Investigate and Prosecute Apartheid Era Crimes
- The National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks have announced that they will be prosecuting individuals for apartheid era-related crimes
- The NPA will be hiring experienced former prosecutors to handle the cases against apartheid era criminals
- The Hawks has also pledged to re-enlist former police officers with a wealth of experience in investigations to assist in these cases
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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks say they have created a dedicated and sustainable strategy to investigate and prosecute individuals who commented atrocious crimes during the apartheid era.
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This announcement comes on the 36th anniversary of the Craddock 4 murders. According to News24, Nomonde Calata, the widow of murdered Cradock 4 teacher Fort Calata, has prayed the same prayer for almost three decades. She has been praying to find out who murdered her husband before she dies.
Decades later, law enforcement agencies are on a mission to bring those who committed crimes to justice.
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According to TimesLIVE, the NPA says it is in the midst of forming a specialised unit to handle these cases exclusively. The NPA will also be appointing former experienced prosecutors to offices that may require more capacity.
The announcement was made by the Hawks and the NPA on Sunday following the Supreme Court of Appeal's dismissal of Joao Rodrigues's application for a permanent stay of prosecution in the case where he is charged with the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol in October 1971.
Rodrigues was a sergeant in the police security division during apartheid. He had requested a permanent stay of prosecution, stating that too much time had passed for him to be charged with Timol's murder.
The NPA and the Hawks said the SCA decision will allow them to continue forward with prosecuting Rodrigues and other apartheid-era criminals in cases where there was adequate evidence.
The NPA stated that with the support of the national office, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi has transferred apartheid-era cases to the relevant directors of public prosecutions (DPPs) in the areas where the crimes were committed.
The Hawks will also re-enlist a number of former police officers with extensive experience in the detective field.
Hawks nab 6 SANDF members charging R15 000 for smuggled vehicles
In another report by Briefly News, six South African National Defence Force Members situated at Beitbridge border post have been arrested for allegedly working alongside criminals to smuggle stolen vehicles across the Limpopo River for money.
Captain Matimba Maluleke, Police spokesperson, stated that the six suspects were allegedly charging R15 000 per vehicle. The Hawks, Crime Intelligence, National Intervention Unit and the military were all part of a team set up to catch the six.
Reports say that the individuals were aged between 30 and 51 years old and that the smuggling operation dates back to 2017.
A statement was released by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms N Mapisa-Nqakula. She reminded and warned both uniformed members of the SANDF and civilians that ill-discipline and criminality in the military community will not be tolerated.
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Source: Briefly News
