It’s time a woman was appointed to head NPA

Tenure of first female public protector set the tone, writes Morgan Phaahla from Ekurhuleni.

Isn’t it time for a female national director of public prosecutions? It’s absolutely necessary that women be given the mandate to preside over prosecutions in a country plagued by violence, crime and corruption that dampen some hope of a better life for all.

Compare the lauded matriarch of successful convictions to the modern-day Pharaoh, who preaches cordial relations with politicians while neglecting the responsibility to act on prima facie evidence of wrongdoing to the degree of ineptitude.

And then pass the buck to the police, a default excuse to turn a blind eye to the corruption that denies society essential justice.

This cannot be equated to working for the public good, but throwing the rule of law out of the window to dispense justice with reluctance or indifference.

To pontificate common good to the point of being on autopilot is as pathetic as trying to decipher the distinction between crime and offence.

Not surprisingly, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has a penchant for committing judicial errors because the prosecution of crimes is in the clutches of the political elites.

We’ve seen an upsurge in divisions and factional manoeuverings within the NPA – notably political machinations that date back to the era of former president Thabo Mbeki.

The selective justice that begun with the National Party has been the norm since baddies occupied the prosecution quarters to render the state devoid of judicial officers with integrity.

But the successful tenure of the first female public protector proved that women are not under any threat of being influenced or susceptible to manipulation, with exceptions of course.

Imagine what tomorrow would look like with a woman at the helm of the NPA.