By Ms Bulelwa Makeke and Adv Sammy Mogoshi 

As South Africa’s criminal justice system confronts increasingly complex forms of crime, the debate over how to measure prosecutorial success has gained renewed importance. While conviction rates should be interpreted alongside broader justice indicators, they remain a constitutionally grounded and internationally recognised measure of prosecutorial effectiveness, reflecting the NPA’s ability to secure fair and lawful convictions in a challenging environment.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence imposed on three accused who were convicted on three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and contravention of immigration laws.

The Modimolle Regional Court sentenced Ayke Araminda (31) to 20 years' imprisonment, Power Zimba Majeza (30) to 25 years' imprisonment, and Thabiso Seoketsa (39) of Hammanskraal to 15 years' imprisonment. Araminda and Majeza are Zimbabwean nationals.

The Thohoyandou Magistrates’Court has granted R2 000 bail to Tshinyadzo Meshack Mudau (53), a manager under Occupational Health and Safety at the National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) Head Office. The accused is from Tshidzini Mutshetoni village who was arrested by Tshaulu police officials on a charge of malicious damage to property. It is alleged that on 27 May 2026, he partially demolished an outside room under construction at his mother's house after a family dispute. A protection order was also granted against him.

The re-opened inquest into the death of anti-apartheid activist Matthews “Mojo” Mabelane commenced before the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division in Johannesburg. The re-opening of the inquest follows written authorisation by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development on 29 January 2025 in terms of the Inquests Act.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment handed down to a 45-year-old man by the Port Shepstone Regional Court for the rape of an 11-year-old girl in Boboyi, Port Shepstone, in 2022. The accused and the complainant lived in the same area.

he National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the ruling of the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court to deny bail to Janitha van Reenen Coetzee (25), who is facing a charge of fraud involving approximately R424 000 allegedly defrauded from Emfuleni Local Municipality.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the ruling by the Brakpan Magistrate's Court to deny bail to Matipandile Sotheni (42), who is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, premeditated murder, three counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, four counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, four counts of failure to safeguard ammunition, failure to safeguard a firearm, and theft of state property.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence of life imprisonment, as well as 15 years’ imprisonment, handed down by the Port Shepstone Regional Court to Aphiwe Deyi (33), following his conviction for the rape and murder of a 52-year-old woman in Marburg, Port Shepstone, in June 2022.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has continued its efforts to ensure that crime does not pay and that the proceeds of crime are forfeited to the State. Last week, two women who were successfully prosecuted and sentenced for trafficking women from Nigeria to a brothel in George, Western Cape, forfeited a vehicle and R29 000 in cash to the State.

Middelburg, Mpumalanga – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of domestic and gender-based violence are held accountable and that justice is served for victims. This follows the conviction and sentencing of Monti Motela Dibakwane (59) by the Middelburg Regional Court to life imprisonment and an additional 11 years' imprisonment for the rape of his former girlfriend, malicious injury to property, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The accused and the victim were previously involved in a domestic relationship.