Deputy Speaker, the answer is, yes, there are circumstances where the National Director of Public Prosecutions or any other senior NPA official has reviewed decisions taken by prosecutors in withdrawing cases. It is, however, important to mention that prosecutors may withdraw cases for a variety of reasons; for example, where the police have not finalised the investigation of the matter and require more time, where the court has indicated that it will not grant a further remand, where witnesses are not available, where there is insufficient evidence, and where an accused or key witness is deceased.
I need to emphasise, though, that any withdrawal does not necessarily mean that the prosecutor has declined to prosecute, and the question of whether a decision taken by the prosecutor to withdraw a matter will be reviewed will depend on the circumstances of each and every case and the reasons for the withdrawal, as I have just indicated.
The NPA has issued very clear policy directives regarding the withdrawal of cases. For example, a criminal case, once enrolled, may be withdrawn only on very compelling grounds, and whenever a case is withdrawn, the reasons for the withdrawal must be noted on the docket. Victims, complainants, witnesses and the police may always approach the NPA if they are not satisfied with the decision of a prosecutor to withdraw a case or to prosecute or not to prosecute, and they do so on a very regular basis. Thank you.