NPA tackles corruption

The NPA is taking action against those implicated in corruption.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is making significant strides in fighting corruption through its Investigating Directorate (ID).

The head of the NPA, Advocate Shamila Batohi, says the ID was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to deal with corruption cases that arise from judicial commissions of inquiry, among others.

These cases include those arising from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State, the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by the South African Revenue Service and the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Impropriety regarding the Public Investment Corporation.

Batohi says the directorate has identified priority cases to investigate, prosecute and, where possible, recover assets, in a number of sectors, including state-owned entities (SOEs), the security sector and high-profile public and private cases.

A number of the cases before the court have been reported in the media, including that of Bosasa former Chief Operations Officer Angelo Agrizzi; former National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Linda Mti; and the former chairperson of the department’s portfolio committee, Vincent Smith.

“On 26 February 2021, the court granted the ID a forfeiture order of R46 million against Smith’s assets, his family trust and a portion of his daughter’s assets for suspected tax liability, fraud and unauthorised gratifications,” says Batohi. 

In SOE-related matters, Batohi says the ID focused on charges relating to R745 million corruption against former senior executives and the businessmen they allegedly colluded with to defraud Eskom’s Kusile Power Station.

In the security sector, one of the prominent cases before the court is the R47 million Soccer World Cup fraud and corruption matter involving KwaZulu-Natal businessman Toshan Panday and eight others.

“The matter was recently transferred to the Durban High Court and a racketeering indictment was produced, alleging that the acts were more than just corruption, but a syndicate to defraud the State,” says Batohi.

She adds that many of the cases the ID is dealing with are complex and could take some time to finalise.

The public is encouraged to report any suspected corrupt activities by emailing ID_LEADS@npa.gov.za