Mr Speaker, yes indeed, I will be answering on behalf of the Minister as he is abroad.
As the hon member knows, section 179(1) of the Constitution provides that there is a single National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, in the Republic structured in terms of the Act of Parliament. It consists of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, NDPP, who is the Head of the National Prosecuting Authority, and is appointed by the President, as head of the national executive, and it also consists of Directors of Public Prosecutions and prosecutors. The Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Nomgcobo Jiba, has been acting as the National Director of Public Prosecutions since December 2011. Adv Jiba continues to discharge her duties as acting NDPP in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic.
After the Constitutional Court had ruled on the appointment of Adv Menzi Simelane as NDPP on 5 October 2012, the Presidency issued a statement in which it indicated that it respects and will abide by the ruling of the Constitutional Court, which is the highest court in our democracy, and that it will study the judgment.
Section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act provides that the President must, in accordance with section 179 of the Constitution, appoint the national director. I am advised that the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development has, at the time of receiving the hon member's question, not received the request for advice from the President of the Republic on the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
It is worth noting that the NPA consists of one national director, four deputy national directors, nine directors and 3 028 prosecutors. The NPA as an integral component of our criminal justice system and under the leadership of the acting NDPP continues to make a valuable contribution to ensure that all in South Africa are safe and feel safe. I thank you.