The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is still in the dark about the number of immigrants who do not appear in court after being granted bail.
This was expressed by the Minister of the Department, Ms. Mmamoloko Kubayi, in response to a question from a member of the ATM group in Parliament, Mr. Vuyo Zungula. Zungula wanted to know how many people from other countries have hit the grass, no longer going to court after being granted bail in the different cases they were facing.
Ms. Kubayi said that the prosecution service in this country, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), does not keep this information.
“There is no similar information kept by the NPA in this country. On the other hand, the NPA statistics show that 1,074 cases against immigrants are in the provincial courts. 37,967 are in the regional courts and these cases are for the 2024/2025 financial year,” said Ms. Kubayi.
Zungula complained about the government’s failure to protect immigrants who face charges but do not go to court.
Meanwhile: Ms. Kubayi responding to another member of this group in Parliament, Ms. Thandiswa Marawu, stated that from April 2024 to March 2025, the government spent R76 million interpreting for immigrants in the courts.
Ms. Marawu asked how much money was used to interpret for foreigners who are facing charges.
“R76 million was used to interpret for foreigners in local courts. The Shona interpreting program cost R8.7 million,” he said.
He said the provinces where it was reported that many people were being interpreted by his fatherFree State, Gauteng, Northern Cape, North West, naseLimpopo. In some provinces, R200 000 was spent on the interpretation program for those who speak this language. He also revealed that he cannot reveal the money spent in court by immigrants.
“The report does not show how much money was used for immigrants in the courts of this country. It only shows the money used for interpretation programs.”