'Outside forces stir student strife'

NPA boss Shaun Abrahams has warned that strikes at tertiary institutions can put state security at risk.

Pretoria - Strikes at the country’s institutions of higher learning are perpetrated by people from outside and not necessarily by students.

National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, shed some light on the incidents, adding that an investigation was under way with a view to bring perpetrators to book.

He was speaking at a media briefing in Centurion on Thursday, where the prosecuting authority was hosting a high level two-day meeting of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster.

The conference was themed, “Consolidating the gains made in the investigation and prosecution of, and ensuring effective partnerships, in the fight against organised crime”.

Abrahams said the conference would look at the current conviction rate by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and hoped it would also bring about greater synergy between the crime-fighting stakeholders.

“I have no doubt that the conference will contribute greatly to better efficiency and synergy in the NPA and it will ultimately result in a higher conviction rate and gain public confidence in the administration of justice,” the advocate said.

Since December last year, the NPA was sitting at an 88% conviction rate in organised crime, he said.

Regarding the university protests, he said the prosecuting authority would work in conjunction with other law-enforcement agencies to make sure the investigation was thoroughly done.

The NPA would give guidance to ensure investigations were properly conducted, he said.

The university protests have caused unnecessary instability in the country and have the potential to put state security at risk, he said.

He said there was a special director responsible for co-ordinating the investigation into university protests. Refusing to be drawn into specific cases under investigation, he said he would comment at an appropriate time after cases had been fully investigated and placed before the NPA.

“I specifically discussed the issues relating to the incidents at the institutions of higher learning because this is the issue of national concern and requires leadership to speak up,” he said.

He brushed aside the perception that the NPA’s image was in tatters, saying it “was incorrect and mischievous” to suggest so.

“It is no secret that I inherited the institution that found itself with the lowest morale since its inception,” he said.

He added: “I invite you to walk into the VGM Building (NPA headquarters) and you will see change - change in the attitude of people, who are committed to the institution, change in the people, who wanted to jump ship.”

“The institution is in a much better place than it was prior to my appointment. It is not what I say it is, but what the 95 percent of the employees have indicated. The other 5 percent is really insignificant; you can’t please everyone.”

He said he would like prosecutors to give due regard to the rule of law.

He stressed the importance of having people who are committed to the Constitution.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Pretoria News