W Plaatjie
The ANC welcomes the Investigating Directorate (ID) against corruption becoming a permanent unit within the NPA after being gazetted on the 19th of August 2024. The ID has been operating as a temporary unit for the past five years. With our commitment to advancing the agenda of building safer communities and fighting corruption, this new status of the ID allows it to take up a more secure position as an anti-corruption body that cannot be disbanded on mere executive proclamation, which was a concern for many stakeholders.
The Investigating Directorate is empowered to investigate and prosecute high-level and complex cases of corruption, including common law and statutory offences. These include commercial crimes such as fraud, forgery, uttering and theft. It also deals with referrals from public commissions of inquiry such as the Public Investment Corporation and SA Revenue Service inquiries. The unit would have criminal investigative powers, permanent staff members and be able to conduct “long-term investigations”.
We believe that a permanent ID will further advance our efforts to win the war on crime.