About 110 staff members of a complement of 3 500, including senior state advocates and prosecutors, left the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the six months to January this year, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Bridget Mabandla told Parliament last week.

The figures confirm the Mail&Guardian's exposé in January of soaring staff turnover at the elite unit. In addition there was a 28,5% staff turnover between April 2003 and March 2004.

Recent resignations include those of spokesperson Sipho Ngwema, Bulelani Ngcuka's former legal adviser, Rudolf Mastenbroek, chief investigator Wayne Malgas and Travelgate prosecutor Ben Avenant.

Answering the Democratic Alliance, Mabandla said there were more than 320 unfilled vacancies (7,7%) at the NPA. The NPA's Makhosini Nkosi said the current staff turnover was not affecting the NPA's ability to fulfil its mandate. "We have not reached a point where the rate is alarming. Between April 2004 and April 2005, we lost 126 prosecutors — less than 5% of the professional staff." Nkosi said the NPA has set aside more than R15-million to boost staff salaries.

With acknowledgements to Matuma Letsoalo and the Mail & Guardian.