Khasho July 2010 - National Prosecuting Authority

Staff EventsNPA at the2010 National Arts Festival9Tsepo NdwalazaThis year the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown had a slow start due to the 2010 FIFA World Cupthat was taking place concurrently with the festival. It started on 20 June 2010 and continued until4 July 2010.The NPA was once again a participant inthis internationally acclaimed annualevent taking place in Grahamstown. TheNPA exhibition stall attracted a keen interestfrom a wide range of visitors, ranging fromtheatre-goers and jazz lovers to ordinarypeople who came to the festival seekinginformation.Members of the public showed a keen interestin maintenance matters, court interdicts,domestic violence, children’s rights andthe relatively new phenomenon, humantrafficking. Prosecutors from the DPP officein Grahamstown were able to interact withand educate the public about the work ofthe NPA. Their knowledge of the law reallymade a difference, as people who came withspecific legal queries were assisted on thespot.One of the attendants, who hailed from CapeTown, had a query about a particular casein which her son was shot in the crossfireduring a police raid on gangs in Cape Town.The DPP Western Cape office was calledimmediately to enquire on her behalf.Sufficient answers relating to the case wereprovided and it was encouraging to see howhappy she was when she left the stall. Therewere many other cases on which prosecutorshad to shed some light.For the young ones, the drawing competitionwas the main attraction. Droves of childrenand their parents came to the exhibition stallto enquire about the competition. On 3 July,a panel of adjudicators selected the bestdrawings and the winners were announced.Schoolchildren visit the NPA exhibition stand at the Grahamstown Festival.Other activities that took place at the festival includedtheatre (stage plays), young boys posing as statues nextto their loyal donkeys, dance, jazz music and many otherforms of art, some bordering on the weird side, but veryinteresting and amusing at times.It is a fulfilling experience to be part of these social eventswhere a platform is created to educate members of thecommunity about the justice system of the country andother services of government.Professionalism, Integrity, Service Excellence, Accountability and Credibility