Khasho July 2010 - National Prosecuting Authority
Khasho July 2010 - National Prosecuting Authority Khasho July 2010 - National Prosecuting Authority
4NPA NewsBeing the people’s lawyerTebogo Seate andNomilo Mpondo– following in the footsteps of MadibaThe month of July was dedicated to honouring a great son of the soil, as he celebrated his 92 ndbirthday. We are talking about none other than Madiba himself.Nelson Mandela is a lawyer by profession. He went toFort Hare University in pursuit of a law degree. He laterworked as an articled clerk at the then Johannesburg law firmof Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman. While working there, hecompleted his BA degree at the University of South Africathrough correspondence, after which he began his law studiesat the University of the Witwatersrand.He qualified as a lawyer in 1942. With his law degree, he wantedto protect his fellow black countrymen against the repressiveapartheid system. Together with Oliver Tambo, he establishedthe country’s first black law firm. His work as a lawyer gavehim a better insight into how the system was affecting his fellowcountrymen.However, his career as a lawyer was unfortunately very shortlived,as his involvement in politics and subsequent arrest finallytook away the ‘people's lawyer’. Later in his life, while in prison,Mandela studied for a Bachelor of Law through the University ofLondon’s External Programme. His deep-rooted passion for lawclearly shows that he had the interest of people whom he wantedto defend and protect at heart at all times.Being from the legal profession, and therefore being ‘one of us’, isthere anything that we can learn from Madiba? Can his life storybe of any value to us as we attempt to ‘represent and act on behalfof the people in all criminal trials’ as is envisioned in the NPA'sService Charter, and in ultimate fulfilment of our vision, ‘justicein our society, so that people can live in freedom and security’?Khasho spoke to three prosecutors, and this iswhat they had to say:Nico Benson, Senior State Prosecutor, Northern Cape DPP,Kimberley officeI get to feel like a people’s lawyer when I see both the victim andthe accused getting assistance. Both the victim and the accusedmust be treated with respect and dignity. Wrongful arrest goesagainst our vision of justice in our society… It is unfortunateto have someone spend time in jail and later find that he waswrongfully accused. Being the people’s lawyer is serving boththe victim and the accused.Moemedi Mabogoane, Senior State Prosecutor, NorthernCape DPP, Kimberley officeBeing the people’s lawyer gets to be fulfilling when I see thevictim of crime leaving the court satisfied, irrespective of whetherthe accused has been found guilty or not.Nelson Mandela as a young lawyer before being imprisoned andlater becoming President of the country. (Image: Wikipedia, thefree encyclopedia)Nkhetheni Munyai, Senior State Prosecutor, North WestDPP, Mmabatho officeAs prosecutors, we are truly inspired by the dedication andtireless efforts of Mr Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela in his fight forfreedom, justice and human rights. As ‘people's lawyers’ likeMr Mandela, we must continue to serve the people of SouthAfrica, in their diversity, with pride to ensure that justice isdispensed evenly, irrespective of the socio-economic conditionsthat may affect particular sections of the various communities.We will continue to play a proactive role to ensure that whatMr Mandela fought for is realised in our justice system. ToMr Mandela we say: “You are an inspiration to the nations.”Did you know?When he was still practising as a lawyer, Madiba developed eightpropositions that he used in his day-to-day life as a lawyer. Theselater came to be known as Mandela’s eight lessons in leadership.(www.time.com)• Courage is not the absence of fear: it is inspiring others tomove beyond it.• Lead from the front, but don’t leave your base behind.• Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front.• Know your enemy and learn about his favourite sport.• Keep your friends close and your rivals even closer.• Appearances matter, and remember to smile.• Nothing is black or white.• Quitting is leading too.Professionalism, Integrity, Service Excellence, Accountability and Credibility
NPA News5Heeding the 67-minute callTebogo SeateOn 18 July 2010, Mandela’s 92 nd birthday, the Nelson Mandela Foundation urged people to devote67 minutes of their time to help improve the conditions of their communities. The 67 minutes representthe number of years that Nelson Mandela spent serving his community, his country, and the world atlarge. The United Nations has adopted this day as International Mandela Day, when people across theglobe are encouraged to celebrate Nelson Mandela's life and legacy. Many NPA employees heededthe call. Some of them came forward and told Khasho what they did on that day.Billy Mabena, Information Management Service Centre(IMSC)To celebrate NelsonMandela’s birthday,Billy decidedto spend some timeat LeamogetsweHome of Safetyin Atteridgeville,Billy Mabena of IMSC, VGM Building,spent more than 67 minutes atLeamogetswe Home of Safety.where he spentmore than 67 minutesplaying withthe kids, assistingwith the preparationof their breakfastand lunch, andalso taking oversome of the dailychores at the home.“The day was reallyenjoyable andthe residents of the home were very welcoming,” he said. Toemphasise the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the NPAdonated four soccer balls to the home. “The soccer balls werethoroughly appreciated by the children, who immediately engagedin a football match on receiving them. Needless to say,I did not miss the opportunity to show off my skills in the fieldas well, much to the kids’ amusement,” he said.Advocate Xolisile Khanyile visitsdisabled children at the IthembelihleSchool in Primrose, Germiston.Adv Xolisile Khanyile,Acting DPP,South GautengAdv Khanyile wasreally touched bythe reality of theworld of disabledchildren at IthembelihleSchool inPrimrose, Germiston.“Althoughvisiting Ithembelihledoes not formpart of the workof the NPA, I willstill go back againbecause the little that we can do will always make a difference,”she said. She was accompanied by prosecutors fromthe Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit, who spent their67 minutes distributing mini-vuvuzelas donated by BrandSA, as well as fruit, to children. The children made a lotof noise and were very excited by the warmth they werereceiving. The NPA entourage felt welcome and eager toreturn.North Gauteng DPP, Pretoria OfficeMembers of North Gauteng DPP provided soup and blankets forthe homeless outside a magistrate's court.When the advocates of the North Gauteng DPP, PretoriaOffice reported for duty at some of the dedicated WorldCup courts at night, they noticed a number of homelesspeople who were living outside the Pretoria Magistrate’scourt. Many of those people did not have sufficient beddingto keep them warm. They used plastic bags to protectthemselves from the cold. This really touched the hearts ofour colleagues, and they decided to buy blankets and soupfor the homeless people out of their own pockets. Althoughsociety views prosecutors as those who only prosecute, itshows that they also care for the community and ensure thatsocial justice is achieved in all forms. In light of a numberof cold fronts that the country experienced during winter,we sincerely hope that this charitable work helped those inneed.Professionalism, Integrity, Service Excellence, Accountability and Credibility
- Page 6 and 7: 6 NPA NewsThreats of violenceagains
- Page 9 and 10: Staff EventsNPA at the2010 National
- Page 11 and 12: NPA Staff11Meet the new Acting DPP
- Page 14 and 15: 14 NPA NewsWhat a spectacularRegion
4NPA NewsBeing the people’s lawyerTebogo Seate andNomilo Mpondo– following in the footsteps of MadibaThe month of <strong>July</strong> was dedicated to honouring a great son of the soil, as he celebrated his 92 ndbirthday. We are talking about none other than Madiba himself.Nelson Mandela is a lawyer by profession. He went toFort Hare University in pursuit of a law degree. He laterworked as an articled clerk at the then Johannesburg law firmof Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman. While working there, hecompleted his BA degree at the University of South Africathrough correspondence, after which he began his law studiesat the University of the Witwatersrand.He qualified as a lawyer in 1942. With his law degree, he wantedto protect his fellow black countrymen against the repressiveapartheid system. Together with Oliver Tambo, he establishedthe country’s first black law firm. His work as a lawyer gavehim a better insight into how the system was affecting his fellowcountrymen.However, his career as a lawyer was unfortunately very shortlived,as his involvement in politics and subsequent arrest finallytook away the ‘people's lawyer’. Later in his life, while in prison,Mandela studied for a Bachelor of Law through the University ofLondon’s External Programme. His deep-rooted passion for lawclearly shows that he had the interest of people whom he wantedto defend and protect at heart at all times.Being from the legal profession, and therefore being ‘one of us’, isthere anything that we can learn from Madiba? Can his life storybe of any value to us as we attempt to ‘represent and act on behalfof the people in all criminal trials’ as is envisioned in the NPA'sService Charter, and in ultimate fulfilment of our vision, ‘justicein our society, so that people can live in freedom and security’?<strong>Khasho</strong> spoke to three prosecutors, and this iswhat they had to say:Nico Benson, Senior State Prosecutor, Northern Cape DPP,Kimberley officeI get to feel like a people’s lawyer when I see both the victim andthe accused getting assistance. Both the victim and the accusedmust be treated with respect and dignity. Wrongful arrest goesagainst our vision of justice in our society… It is unfortunateto have someone spend time in jail and later find that he waswrongfully accused. Being the people’s lawyer is serving boththe victim and the accused.Moemedi Mabogoane, Senior State Prosecutor, NorthernCape DPP, Kimberley officeBeing the people’s lawyer gets to be fulfilling when I see thevictim of crime leaving the court satisfied, irrespective of whetherthe accused has been found guilty or not.Nelson Mandela as a young lawyer before being imprisoned andlater becoming President of the country. (Image: Wikipedia, thefree encyclopedia)Nkhetheni Munyai, Senior State Prosecutor, North WestDPP, Mmabatho officeAs prosecutors, we are truly inspired by the dedication andtireless efforts of Mr Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela in his fight forfreedom, justice and human rights. As ‘people's lawyers’ likeMr Mandela, we must continue to serve the people of SouthAfrica, in their diversity, with pride to ensure that justice isdispensed evenly, irrespective of the socio-economic conditionsthat may affect particular sections of the various communities.We will continue to play a proactive role to ensure that whatMr Mandela fought for is realised in our justice system. ToMr Mandela we say: “You are an inspiration to the nations.”Did you know?When he was still practising as a lawyer, Madiba developed eightpropositions that he used in his day-to-day life as a lawyer. Theselater came to be known as Mandela’s eight lessons in leadership.(www.time.com)• Courage is not the absence of fear: it is inspiring others tomove beyond it.• Lead from the front, but don’t leave your base behind.• Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front.• Know your enemy and learn about his favourite sport.• Keep your friends close and your rivals even closer.• Appearances matter, and remember to smile.• Nothing is black or white.• Quitting is leading too.Professionalism, Integrity, Service Excellence, Accountability and Credibility
Change language