Question NW4037 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
02 January 2024 - NW4037
Msimang, Prof CT to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether he intends to reinstate the Aspirant Prosecutor Programme in 2024; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The impact that the budget cuts have on the Aspirant Prosecutor Programme is that the group that is due to complete their training in January 2024, cannot be absorbed into the NPA and appointed into the entry level District Court posts, as has been tradition. However, the NPA is considering another option to be able to keep them within NPA’s employ, through their current contracts.
The Estimated National Expenditure (ENE) reflects further major budget cuts for the next 3 years of the MTEF for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, which affects the NPA. The severe budget cuts have a devastating effect for the NPA, to the extent that it will be a struggle to even cover the salaries of existing staff. Under these circumstances, the possibility of a new intake for 2024 is virtually impossible to accommodate.
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