Chairperson, the ACDP welcomes the increase in the departmental budget and we will support this Budget Vote.
The department leads the criminal justice cluster in a fight against crime. We look forward to the effective implementation of the seven-point plan flowing from the criminal justice review. This is an attempt to ensure that all South Africans feel free and are safe. However, in this regard it is a matter of concern that only 317 000 criminal cases were finalised although more than a million cases were enrolled. Clearly, our courts are overstretched and require further capacity. Our prosecutors also need assistance. We cannot afford to lose experienced prosecutors, and for that reason we cannot understand why experienced High Court and senior prosecutors were redeployed to lower courts. Thankfully this decision was reversed.
In this regard the ACDP shares the view that Parliament should play a key role in the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, NDPP. The judiciary has come through a particularly challenging year following the complaints of interference lodged by the Constitutional Court Judges and ensuing litigation and investigation by the Judicial Service Commission, JSC. The recent Cape High Court decision striking down the JSC decision resulted in this matter lingering on. We trust that the JSC will now speedily resolve this issue.
The ACDP also shares the views expressed on the exclusion of Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett from appointment to the Bench. It is a shocking and illogical decision to say the least, particularly in view of the time he has spent on the Lesotho Bench. We would urge him to apply again.
The ACDP is also concerned about the increase in human trafficking in the run-up to the Fifa Soccer World Cup. It was the ACDP that requested the Justice portfolio committee to hold an urgent briefing on this issue following the tabling of the Trafficking in Persons Bill.
Whilst we are still to consider this Bill, we want to make it very clear that, at the moment, there is more than sufficient legislation in place to successfully prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking. This is borne out by the successful prosecution of traffickers in KwaZulu-Natal on a number of charges, including racketeering. So criminals be warned! We will not tolerate the abuse of our women and children.
The ACDP is concerned about the degree of support available to victims of trafficking following briefings. Minister, as head of the criminal justice cluster, we would urge you to ensure that police officials are properly trained and that there are sufficient safe houses to accommodate such victims, although these are not directly your line function. As the cluster head, we would urge you to look at that, particularly in the rural areas. Please also ensure that provincial task teams are established in all provinces as a matter of urgency.
The long-awaited Child Justice Act commenced on 1 April 2010. This followed some 10 years of drafting and deliberations. Diversion and restorative justice have, however, been applied in our courts with great success for a number of years. The ACDP played a key role in finalising this Act and will closely monitor its implementation. All that we can say at this stage is, "at long last!" We have implemented it at long last.
As far as the Chapter 9 institutions are concerned, we need to take responsibility for not implementing all the decisions of the ad hoc committee. Clearly, this unit needs to be further capacitated to improve oversight and engagement by the relevant portfolio committee.
We appreciate that the department faces many and varied challenges; however, the challenges can be overcome. Take for example the Legal Aid Board that was in a chaotic state a few years ago. Through perseverance and hard work it has been transformed into a world leader in the provision of legal aid.
Lastly, the ACDP would like to thank all those dedicated members of the judiciary, prosecutors and court officials who tirelessly seek to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law by providing justice on a day-to-day basis. I thank you. [Applause.]