[Infographic] South Africa's prosecuting authority: How does Accountability work in the NPA?

Accountability means “being responsible for your decisions or actions, and explaining them when you are asked”. The NPA is the only entity in South Africa with the power to institute criminal prosecutions – in other words, to hold people and companies criminally accountable. The Constitution also requires the NPA itself to be accountable. Prosecutors have wide discretionary powers, but this does not mean they can do as they please. They must account for how they meet their responsibilities and for corrective actions taken, where appropriate. This infographic looks at key concepts around accountability and unpacks the accountability relationships of the NPA.