NPA must do its job – Breytenbach

Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister of justice and constitutional development Glynnis Breytenbach says “something sinister” is going on with numerous break-ins at state institutions where particular computers were targeted and stolen.

She was speaking outside the offices of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Weavind Park, Pretoria, where a group of DA supporters were picketing in an attempt to put pressure on the NPA to do its job.

“We are certainly not naive and don’t expect a miracle, but we do expect them to do their job. What we want to do is to save the people of South Africa who pay tax.

“You pay tax so that these things can be investigated, so that the public can be protected. At least that is what tax money is supposed to do and not pay for weddings at Sun City,” Breytenbach said.

She said the initial break-in, at the Helen Suzman Foundation, targeted a certain set of computers.

“Then there was the break-in at the offices of the chief justice where computers were taken and then the break-in, astonishingly, at the Hawks, where it is hard to gain entrance, yet people with impunity got in,” Breytenbach said.

“One must not forget the breakin at the Marks building at parliament where journalists’ computers were stolen.

“And now the offices of the director for public prosecutions North Gauteng. It is almost impossible to gain access from the outside unless you are authorised to enter.

“It is deeply worrying.”

She said Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and NPA head Shaun Abrahams must urgently brief the public on state institution breakins, as well as the Gupta cases.

Over the past 10 months, the DA has laid 13 criminal charges against at least 23 individuals, including President Jacob Zuma, members of his Cabinet, members of the Gupta family and six companies and state entities.

“They are high-profile charges from treason, racketeering, corruption to fraud, but nothing appears to be happening and there is no progress in these investigations,” she said.