State Capture was devastating, and organised crime is rampant. But South Africa is the Comeback Kid. The National Prosecuting Authority is working with its partners to restore the rule of law and regain public confidence that justice can become the norm rather than the exception in our country.

South Africa has a serious crime problem. And it’s getting worse. Violent and commercial crime levels are soaring and criminals are becoming more brazen and sophisticated.

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has sentenced Martin Grieb (41), to an effective 25-year imprisonment, after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Vernon Viviers (59), in August 2022, in the Prestbury area of Pietermaritzburg. Grieb and Viviers knew each other through Grieb’s girlfriend, Jade Ashli Barnard, who worked at Viviers’ takeaway. On the day of the incident, both Grieb and Barnard approached Viviers at the takeaway shop, demanding an advance payment in Barnard’s daily pay.

In a third gender-based violence and femicide case in two days, the High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division convicted Babsy Ntamehlo, for the murder of his estranged wife over a dispute over an RDP house. Earlier,  Ntamehlo threatened to strangle his wife, Nosicelo Tsipa, kill her and burn her body in the early hours. He told his friend Nyameko Sixhozi, “I wish to strangle this to death around the early hours of the morning and burn her body next to the river close to us, my brother.

The High Court of South Africa: Western Cape Division has convicted an abusive boyfriend, Phillip April, for the premeditated murder of his ex-girlfriend, Allison Plaatjies. The court also convicted him for the theft of her vehicle, a charge he vehemently denied as he indicated that the deceased permitted him to drive her car.  This conviction follows the State declined to accept the accused’s guilty plea when he confessed to Plaatjies’ murder.

The Carletonville Magistrates’ Court denied bail to Dumisani Moyo (35), one of the six men who are alleged to be illegal mining kingpins. On their second appearance on 17 October 2022, the five co-accused abandoned their bail application.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the announcements by President Ramaphosa in his response to the State Capture Commission recommendations. His response highlights the importance of strengthening the NPA as a key part of South Africa’s broader response to complex corruption. They reflect the outcome of collective inputs made by criminal justice partners into the preparation of the report, as well as views expressed by civil society actors.