Courts not Father Christmas,Noa says on exit
Outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission director Paulus Noa defended the agency's record, stating that courts require evidence beyond reasonable doubt and are not 'Father Christmas.' Incoming director Bryan Eiseb plans to shift toward proactive investigations and increased use of technology.
Why it matters
Reflects the challenges of institutional anti-corruption efforts and the transition toward more aggressive, tech-driven enforcement strategies.
Outgoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Paulus Noa has cautioned against expecting the commission to simply secure convictions in every corruption case, saying the law and courts must be allowed to take their course.
Noa made the remarks yesterday as he formally ended his 20-year tenure at the ACC, which he helped establish and lead since its inception in 2006.
He handed over the seat to incoming director general Bryan Eiseb.
Reflecting on the commission’s early years, Noa says the public had expected alleged corruption cases involving institutions such as the GIPF, ODC and Social Security Commission to result in jail time for the suspects.
“The public was impatient to wait for all this to happen,” he says, adding that the ACC had to explain its powers and mandate and that the law could not operate retrospectively.
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