Question NW456 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services

Reply:

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) currently has delegations from the Accounting Officer to accept donations in-kind below R2 million. Where a donation is in cash, the normal regime of channelling funds through the National Treasury will apply. The NPA has to date not received any cash donations.

The NPA is currently in the final stages of approving an amended NPA Donor Funding Policy which will be aligned to the National Treasury Donor Funding guidelines and regulations. This will create internal control systems for dealing with all donations in line with relevant policies, prescripts and confidentiality requirements. The NPA engages with all partners fully cognisant of the importance of protecting its independence and perceptions of any potential interference. The NPA is committed to delivering on its mandate without fear, favour or prejudice, and all partnerships are implemented with this imperative in mind.

The in-kind donations received in the current financial year to date amount to R28.8 million and can be grouped into four (4) broad categories:

1. Employee development and capacitation: in-kind support was received from local donors, including non-profit organisations and businesses to below R5.9 million. This support came in the form of training and skills development as well as workshops and conference attendance by NPA employees. Of this, approximately R4 million emanated from the law society and other local non-profits and individual businesses.
2. Professional services: In-kind support was received from local legal practitioners in the form of pro bono services and corporate support services to the value of R7.8 million. This support focused largely on accommodation for the co-location of the NPA-led Task Force on the State Capture.
3. Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs): In-kind support to the value of R10.1 million was received for gender-based violence programmes from local retail businesses.
4. Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA): The NPA signed a formal partnership agreement with BLSA to provide tailored support for the rebuilding project of the NPA to the value of R2.9 million. This in-kind support focused on specialised consultancy services, project management support and capacity development for NPA colleagues working on complex state capture matters. This partnership was mentioned by the President as a positive development in the government’s formal response to the Zondo Commission findings.
5. A total of R2 million was received from various international bodies to which the NPA affiliates for workshops and conferences. The donations were in respect of travel and accommodation.

Details of each of the donations are disclosed in the quarterly financials and will be disclosed in full in the Annual Financial Statements.