National Prosecuting Authority
The National Prosecuting Authority is a public body in the law of South Africa that is responsible for representing the state in law enforcement .
history
Until 1998 there was no national law enforcement agency. At each High Court , prosecution was assigned to the respective Attorney-General . The establishment of the National Prosecuting Authority goes back to Section 179 of the current constitution and the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998 .
Structure and tasks
At the head of the NPA is the National Director of Public Prosecutions. At the level of the high courts, there is a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) instead of the former Attorney-Generals . Below the DPP are deputy DPPs (Deputy Directors) and individual prosecutors . The task of the NPA is law enforcement. It happens in the name of the state (State versus X). Only if the NPA refrains from prosecution (nolle prosequi), private prosecution can take place as an exception. However, the DPP retains the right to intervene at any time until the judgment.
literature
- CG Van der Merwe, JE Du Plessis: Introduction to the law of South Africa . Kluwer Law International, 2004, ISBN 978-90-411-2282-7 , pp. 514 sq .