NPA safe houses ‘rented to friends’

Officials suspended for abuse of resources

‘ They approached friends and family members to live in the houses

THE two men who head the National Prosecuting Authority’s witness protection unit in the Eastern Cape have been suspended following allegations that they were renting out safe houses meant for witnesses in protective custody. Although the NPA refused to identify them, their names are known to The Herald.

The men – the regional head and deputy head of the NPA’s provincial witness protection unit – were suspended on Wednesday. They are accused of flouting procurement policy in acquiring accommodation for witnesses and letting people other than witnesses stay in the houses, often for financial gain.

Experts said the abuse of witness protection resources could have major implications for crime fighting.

NPA spokesman Nomilo Mpondo confirmed the officials were suspended pending the outcome of an investigation. “Two senior officers were placed on precautionary suspension emanating from the auditor-general’s report for 2012-13 which found alleged irregular expenditure and recommended a probe to the accounting officer of the NPA,” Mpondo said.

“No criminal charges are pending since the investigation is at a preliminary stage regarding the alleged misconduct by the two officials.”

Mpondo said the officials could not be identified as this would be “in breach of the Witness Protection Act” and “for reasons of the officials’ own security due to the nature of their functions”.

She would not comment further due to the “classified nature” of the programme’s functions. But three NPA officials alleged the two officials had abused state resources for personal benefit. The two officials allegedly deliberately failed to put out tenders for the provision of safe houses for witnesses.

They also allegedly put family members and friends in some of the safe houses and rented out others to students.

It is not known how many safe houses were affected or over what period they were allegedly misused.

One NPA official, who did not want to be named, said the two had carried on as if they were running their own properties, not a government institution.

“It is alleged that they approached friends and family members to live in the houses. They were moved from one house to the next.

“They also allegedly received kickbacks from the actual owners of the houses [who were paid for the use of the properties]. It’s difficult to know how many houses are involved since the programme is kept secret from the public.”

Another official confirmed the allegations and said the nature of the offences badly affected the NPA’s fight against crime. “It is going to be difficult to convince witnesses to come on this programme because their safety cannot be guaranteed,” the official said.

“These are very serious allegations and impact negatively on the administration of justice.”

A third official confirmed the men had been suspended as a result of renting out some of the houses and placing friends and family in others, but did not want to elaborate.

Contacted for comment on Friday, one of the suspended officials said: “Who told you that I am sus-

pended? Speak to the NPA. Goodbye.” The other man did not answer his phone.

Crime expert Johan Burger, of the Institute for Security Studies, said the abuse of witness protection resources had huge implications.

“If senior members are allowed to act in a criminal manner, how safe are the people in the programme? Can the public trust them?” he said.

Political analyst Prince Machele said the programme’s integrity was at stake. “This is a very important programme, especially for people who feel threatened. What ultimately will suffer is justice. Something major has to be done to restore that trust.”