The new National Director of Public Prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, has
forbidden prosecutors to speak to the media without prior authorisation, his
office said on Thursday.
"It comes from the head of the institution. He wants us to have more control
over what gets communicated and how it gets communicated," Simelane's
spokeswoman Bulelwa Makeke said.
Makeke said the directive was relayed in an internal document and was
effectively "immediately as an amendment to our current media policy".
She added the NPA has had "many issues" as a result of prosecutors talking to
the press and was surprised the policy change was attracting criticism.
"If you have 3 000 employees and every one speaks to the media, how are you ever
going to have control?
"We are not saying they cannot talk, they just have to have proper
authorisation. If there is a case that is going to attract a lot of media
attention, they can get authorisation beforehand. But there are always things
you can and cannot say."
Makeke said prosecutors now had to approach the directors of prosecution in
their province for permission to respond to media enquiries.
Simelane became head of the NPA in December, a year after Vusi Pikoli was
controversially fired from the post.
His appointment provoked an outcry, partly because of the severe criticism by
the Ginwala Commission of his conduct in the Pikoli.