PRETORIA

 The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa has in terms of section 17L of the South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act No. 68 of 1995), appointed Judge Essa Moosa as the retired judge who will attend to complaints regarding the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), otherwise known as the Hawks.

The South African Police Service Act, 1995, provides for a complaints mechanism in respect of the DPCI.

A retired judge may be appointed by the Minister of Police, after consultation with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Chief Justice.

The function of the retired judge is to receive and investigate complaints from —
(a)       any member of the public who can provide evidence of a serious and unlawful infringement of his or her rights caused by an investigation by the DPCI; or
(b)       any member of the DPCI who can provide evidence of any improper influence or interference whether of a political or any other nature exercised upon him or her regarding the conducting of an investigation.

Retired Justice Moosa, who has been appointed with immediate effect, was a judge of the High Court in the Western Cape.  He also has a strong human rights background, having previously practised as an Attorney in Cape Town and represented many high profile political activists and organisations involved in the struggle for human rights and freedom during the apartheid era.

The appointment of retired Justice Moosa will contribute to ensuring that the DPCI executes its mandate in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.  Organized crime, serious economic and transnational crimes as well as corruption, undermine our democracy and have a negative impact on society.

Government is continuously seeking to improve the quality of law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system as a whole.   Through the DPCI Act we believe that this will further strengthen the investigative capacity of the Directorate.

A communication strategy is also being developed to create public awareness about the role and functions of the retired judge relating to complaints against the DPCI, both within the SAPS and the public at large. 

For enquiries, please contact:

Ministry of Police
Mobile: +27 (0)82 045 4024