The National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers is incensed by the NPA’s intimidation tactics carried out against workers. Instead of addressing real issues plaguing the organisation, the National Prosecuting Authority has embarked on a witch-hunt in a bid to silence our members.
On 21 December 2021 our member Comrade Sindile Nkabinde from Johannesburg Cluster received a notice of intention to suspend her for conducting an interview with Power FM about racism within the National Prosecuting Authority(NPA). Comrade Sindile conducted the interview as a NUPSAW representative and not as an NPA employee.
She is now threatened to be suspended for bringing NPA into disrepute, contravening NPA media policy and disrespecting the NDPP. This only serves to prove that Comrade Sindile was being truthful regarding what she said in the interview about racism in the NPA; that white and Indian employees are protected by NPA; that black employees are subjected to victimization, nepotism, favouritism and racism which the NPA is trying by all means to cover up by silencing those who speak out. The NPA is continuing to victimise black employees. Black prosecutors have been dragged to the courts by white and Indian managers for fighting against racism and this was all over newspapers and their names written all over and NPA management was mum about these matters being publicized. People inside the NPA have been leaking information to the media about the disciplinary proceedings of the suspended black Chief Prosecutor, Adv Futshane and again, there has not been a single commentary from the NPA lamenting those who kept disclosing internal matters. This clearly shows NPA has vowed to frustrate black prosecutors for standing up against racism; it means the NPA is determined to promote racism and ill-treatment of black prosecutors. Our member was given 24 hours to respond to NPA’s intention to suspend. Responding to NPA’s decision, NUPSAW gave NPA an opportunity to respond regarding their decision to censor NUPSAW. They have yet to acknowledge or respond to NUPSAW.
NUPSAW will not be intimidated by NPA and their actions towards our members. We will not allow NPA to victimise our members further. Protecting their racist tendencies against our members will not be tolerated.The President and the Minister of Justice must intervene. The NPA ship is sinking and it is a disgrace that after we have gained democracy in this country, we still have people in key State organs like the NPA, condoning racist acts and using underhanded tactics to silence those that speak against the injustices done by NPA white and Indian managers towards black employees.