EFF to 'fight for Cwecwe' through private prosecution after NPA drops case — Malema

TimesLIVE26-05-2025

EFF leader Julius Malema has pledged to pursue a private prosecution in the rape case of seven-year-old 'Cwecwe', a Matatiele girl allegedly sexually assaulted at Bergview College in October last year.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped the case this month, citing insufficient evidence, sparking outrage and allegations of systemic failure to address gender-based violence and child abuse.
Speaking to supporters in ward 16 of Kwakwatsi in the Free State on Sunday, Malema condemned the NPA's decision and vowed to seek justice for 'Cwecwe'. 'Let's protect our children and women, let's make sure South Africa is safe for them,' he said.
Malema, who met Cwecwe's family a few weeks ago to offer support, claimed adversaries are funding rival political parties to dismantle the EFF, saying, 'If the EFF dies, cases such as Cwecwe's will never be taken seriously'.
'Today they took a decision not to prosecute people who raped Cwecwe. We are going to pursue private prosecution on behalf of the family and we are going to make sure Cwecwe gets the best medical care so she doesn't relive the trauma she has experienced.'

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‘Kill the Boer' it ain't just Malema's thing [video]

The South African

an hour ago

The South African

‘Kill the Boer' it ain't just Malema's thing [video]

Not just Malema: A group of black people – cited as African Americans – chanted to 'Kill The Boer'. Image: X/EFFSouthAfrica A clip of a group of black people singing Kill The Boer – presumably in the US – has gone viral on social media. Recently sung by Economic Freedom Fighter leader Julius Malema, the anti-Apartheid song has been accused of having 'racist' connotations. Last month, US President Donald Trump publicly condemned the 'call to action'. Pretoria-born billionaire businessman and UK media personality Piers Morgan have also criticised the song. On social media, a clip of black people singing along to Kill The Boer has gone viral. Read the full version of the ''Kill The Boer' sung by 'African Americans'? ' article. 'KILL THE BOER' SUNG ABROAD In the video, the crowd, many of whom wear traditional African garments, are seen dancing and singing the tune to the anti-struggle song. Although some claim that the people in the video were African Americans, it's unconfirmed if the video was taken in the US. WATCH MORE VIDEOS FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN Looking for quick updates? Watch News in a Minute videos on The South African's YouTube page for all the key stories you need to know! Catch all the latest videos on news, lifestyle, travel, sports and more – there's always something to watch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky to stay connected and get your news on the go!

NPA 'infiltrated by those against the rule of law'

The Citizen

5 hours ago

The Citizen

NPA 'infiltrated by those against the rule of law'

The NPA has recently come under fire for its handling of high-profile cases. National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi at the Union Buildings on 4 November 2018 in Pretoria. Picture: Gallo Images / Phill Magakoe National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi claims the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been infiltrated by those against the rule of law. The NPA has recently come under fire for its handling of high-profile cases, including that of former Free State premier Ace Magashule's personal assistant and corruption co-accused, Moroadi Cholota, who was allowed to walk free. Bungles The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein ruled that it does not have jurisdiction to try Cholota. 'What appears pertinently clear is that it is undeniable that the state presented false and incorrect information to United States authorities,' Judge Philip Loubser, who is presiding over the R255 million asbestos corruption trial, ruled. The NPA has continued to stumble through a series of high-profile legal bungles, including the long-running Timothy Omotoso sex trafficking trial that has dragged on for years, and the Shepherd Bushiri extradition matter. WATCH Shamila Batohi speaking about the NPA being infiltrated [ICYMI] National Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Shamila Batohi says the NPA has been infiltrated by those against the rule of law. The NPA has recently come under fire over its handling of high-profile cases. While Batohi has denied interference from the executive, she says… June 5, 2025 ALSO READ: NPA failures need more scrutiny Failures The NPA has also failed in several attempts to finalise successful prosecutions, including those involving the Estina Dairy, former Eskom executive Matshela Koko, ANC politician Zizi Kodwa, and the extradition of the Gupta brothers from the United Arab Emirates to stand trial in South Africa. Critics argue that the NPA's slow pace and repeated failures are doing a disservice to South Africans who seek justice. Interference While Batohi has denied interference from the executive, she says there are people with agendas internally and externally. 'I have not had interference from any members of the executive whilst I have been the national director. But I what I do want to say is that there are other issues that I can't really speak about that actually makes me worry sometimes,' Batohi told Newzroom Afrika on Friday. 'That the NPA is actually being infiltrated by people that do not have the rule of law at heart, they don't sleep comfortably at night because of that, not because I think that the NPA is a failing organisation,' Batohi said. Batohi said she is concerned about the attacks on the NPA and the director and will be taking it up with the 'executive.' ALSO READ: NPA 'vindicated' by Zuma corruption acquittal loss, but will he appeal again?

The decline of the NPA under Shamila Batohi

IOL News

7 hours ago

IOL News

The decline of the NPA under Shamila Batohi

Challenges facing the National Prosecuting Authority under adv Shamila Batohi Image: Henk Kruger Since her appointment as National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) in 2018, Advocate Shamila Batohi pledged to restore integrity and effectiveness to South Africa's embattled National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Six years on, however, critics argue that the institution is mired in high-profile failures, eroding public trust and casting doubt on its ability to deliver justice. One of the most prominent disappointments has been the botched prosecution of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who faced multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking. After eight years, the case ended in a startling acquittal. The court cited prosecutorial misconduct, poor cross-examination, a lack of corroborating evidence, and an incoherent legal strategy. Professor Buhle Dube, Director of the School of Law at the University of South Africa, said: 'High-profile cases are delicate and require meticulous handling. Unfortunately, the NPA often yields to public pressure, leading to procedural errors that jeopardise justice.' Despite numerous forensic investigations into corruption at state-owned entities such as Eskom, Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), and damning findings from the Zondo Commission, the NPA has yet to secure significant convictions. Delayed or non-existent prosecutions have fuelled perceptions that powerful political interests influence justice. 'Since the controversial landing of the Guptas at AFB Waterkloof over 12 years ago, little has been done to tackle corruption decisively,' said political analyst Professor Tumi Senoekane. 'The recommendations from the Zondo Commission have largely been ignored, and attempts to hold influential figures accountable remain stalled.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Failures to extradite fugitives such as the Gupta brothers and self-styled prophet Shepherd Bushiri have drawn further criticism. Bushiri's continued evasion of justice exemplifies these shortcomings. Meanwhile, high-profile murder cases - including those of soccer star Senzo Meyiwa and rapper AKA - remain unresolved, compounding public disillusionment. The Nulane Investments fraud case, involving a fraudulent feasibility study linked to former Free State Premier Ace Magashule and the Vrede Dairy Project, was described by the court as a 'comedy of errors' after key evidence was mishandled and ruled inadmissible. Dube noted, 'Prosecutorial discretion must be applied judiciously and without political or public pressure. The push for quick wins often results in shortcuts that subvert justice.' Similarly, Political analyst Professor Tumi Senoekane pointed out that 'the NPA has failed to execute its mandate in a timely and effective manner. Political interference, resource constraints, and structural deficiencies contributed to this decline.' Former Executive Director and current Corruption Watch consultant Karim Singh echoed these sentiments. 'The losses suffered by the NPA are demoralising, both for the public and those within the organisation. Stability in leadership and a focus on operational independence are essential for meaningful reform.' Singh suggested that in terms of the NPA's execution regarding corruption, we need to pay attention now to the operationalisation and function of the Independent Directorate headed up by advocate Andrea Johns. 'Some of the questions towards Johnson regarding how are they learning from these mistakes moving forward as key people at the NPA.' Although Batohi's tenure began with high expectations, critics argue it has delivered few tangible results. Calls for reform include reviving the independent investigative model of the now-defunct Scorpions, bolstering resources and instilling a culture of accountability.. 'The recent establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is a positive step,' said Singh. 'However, more resources and strategic leadership are needed to ensure it fulfils its mandate effectively.' The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced plans to hold a media briefing on Friday morning to address what they describe as a deepening crisis within the NPA and the Department of Justice. The DA said it aims to scrutinise recent failures, including the collapse of the Omotoso trial and the delays in implementing the Zondo Commission's recommendations. Conviction rates and the number of criminal cases handled by the NPA have reportedly declined under Batohi, reflecting broader leadership and capacity challenges. Last month, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi instructed Batohi to submit a detailed report explaining the Omotoso acquittal and the underlying causes of the NPA's failure in the case. This comes despite Batohi's 2022 commitment to prioritising high-profile corruption prosecutions, following a funding injection from National Treasury.