Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe
Other Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster Ministers present
Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Mokotedi Mpshe
Heads of Prosecuting Agencies
Distinguished guests
Thank you very much for this opportunity to welcome you all to South Africa and the beautiful city of Cape Town.
It is indeed a great honour for me to address all the heads of prosecution agencies from all the countries represented here today. We meet during a wonderful day with respect to our justice system. Earlier today we had a joint sitting of our Parliament where we bid farewell our Chief Justice the Hon Pius Langa who has retired. We also welcomed Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo our new Chief Justice.
This event is therefore an important ending to a very significant day in our history and in our justice system! You are therefore holding your conference at the right time. It is also a day on which we celebrate that the United Nations (UN) has agreed to recognise Nelson Mandela Day to be celebrated every year on 18 July, to mark President Mandela's commitment to justice, freedom and human rights.
I raise this here as I know that you all hold him in the greatest regard, and also because as you know, he is also a legal eagle! You are in good company indeed in this profession.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased that you chose our country as the host of this prestigious conference. I am certain that very important discussions will take place on our shores. Valuable experiences will be shared and critical decisions will be taken here, that will have a huge impact on prosecution processes in our various countries now and in the future.
You are holding the 10th Heads of Prosecuting Agencies Conference (HOPAC), at a time when critical debates around some of the issues on your agenda for this conference pre-occupy our new democracy and the Constitutional State. We take such strong pride in our Constitution, due to the protection it provides to our citizens especially the poor and marginalised.
We are encouraged by the depth of all other topics in your agenda. The challenge of the lack of capacity to prosecute new complex and technical crimes, for instance, speaks to the heart of the hardships faced by the criminal justice system in most parts of the world.
Also important is that you meet as the world grapples with international crime. Drug syndicates, money laundering, human trafficking, identity theft and a host of other crimes cross the borders of all nations each day and require international cooperation.
Working together as nations of the world we need to close avenues for global syndicates and not allow them space to destroy our youth with their drugs, or to turn women and children into slaves in foreign countries. We must also shield our countries and peoples against the growing threat of crimes related to information communications technology (ICT), particularly cyber crime.
The developing world in particular we must improve our systems and ensure adequate protection of information and communications network. To eradicate trans-national crime requires the cooperation of our prosecuting authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book and pay for their crimes which at most times endanger lives of scores of people including women and children.
Trans-national crimes require superior investigative capacity with a particular focus on forensics, sharp intelligence networks that are able to stretch beyond borders, as well as top notch law enforcement personnel. It is also important to have enabling legislation to circumvent any technical loopholes that could undermine local authorities in the fight against organised crime.
We have a duty therefore as governments to make the work of all elements of the criminal justice worldwide effective, from the police, to prosecution, courts and incarceration. The cooperation amongst nations of the world is paramount to ensure that we deal with such challenges.
It would make your work as prosecuting authorities much more manageable.
Therefore, our respective countries need to strengthen Mutual Legal Assistance agreements and Extradition Treaties. No country should be a safe haven for criminals in any way.
Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to reaffirm to this conference our support for the work done by the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as other international agencies. We will also continue to support all international initiatives aimed at upholding the rule of law, equality, justice as well as the protection of human rights for all citizens of the world.
At the same time, we must make a strong case for African countries to strengthen their national legal systems. This would complement the work of the ICC.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you will all agree with me, as you deliberate with wisdom and with care in the next few days, that the work of prosecuting agencies all over the world is the lifeblood of the criminal justice system.
We sincerely look forward to the outcomes of your conference so that together we can reduce the levels of crime in our communities. We sincerely trust that your wonderful experiences in our country over the next few days will encourage you to not only come back to enjoy the 2010 FIFA World Cup next year, but to also go back and spread the word in your respective countries about the virtues of our beautiful land.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me take this opportunity to thank you once again for inviting me to address this conference. And with these few words, I now declare the official opening of HOPAC 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
11 November 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)
