Pretoria: Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel has called on graduates of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Aspirant Prosecutor Programme to discharge their duties without fear, favour or prejudice. The Deputy Minister delivered remarks at the graduation ceremony of the 300 budding prosecutors, some of whom will now join the NPA following their graduation.
According to South African Government News Agency, the programme is run for a year, following which, competent candidates are appointed as entry-level prosecutors providing support for the NPA in South Africa’s lower courts. Nel emphasized the critical role these young prosecutors will play, asserting that they are “modern-day Consuls, defenders of our Republic, guardians of justice and the rule of law, lawyers of the people.” He highlighted the importance of ensuring justice is perceived and felt in everyday lives, not merely through convictions, but through due process and the rule of law, allowing individuals the opportunity to defend themselves in court.
Nel reminded the aspiring defenders of the Constitution that ‘people are not dockets’. He urged them to ensure that the rights of crime victims are respected and upheld, and that victims, particularly the vulnerable, are treated with dignity by the criminal justice system. “Our criminal justice system must never be a source of secondary victimisation,” Nel stated, underscoring the responsibility prosecutors have in safeguarding justice.
The Deputy Minister further encouraged the young lawyers to maintain ethical conduct, warning that if citizens lose confidence in the State’s ability to deliver justice, it could lead to lawlessness. “For this reason, you must conduct yourselves in the most exemplary manner possible. You must always uphold the highest ethical standards, both in your professional and your personal lives,” Nel concluded.