Pretoria: The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (NPA) has noted the recent media statements on the Cato Manor case.

NPA spokesperson Bulelwa Makeke says the matter is before court and they are therefore by law not at liberty to deal with the merits of the case in the media.

The case was brought after an intensive investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) unearthed at least 51 cases of suspicious deaths and allegations of poor handling of cases in the crime unit office at Cato Manor in Durban.

A top ranking officer in Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Major-General Johan Booysen, was arrested on 22 August 2012 on a number of charges, including murder and racketeering, together with 27 others who mostly are part of the unit.

“They are being charged with 116 counts, including racketeering, murder, defeating the ends of justice and housebreaking. The trial was due to commence in November 2013,” says Makeke.

However, Booysen has brought an application challenging the decision to prosecute him on the charges.

“The State is opposing this application as we feel strongly that we have a compelling case against all the accused.

“We acknowledge the fact that the matter is before court and we are therefore by law not at liberty to deal with the merits of the case in the media. As soon as the current application of Booysen is finalized, a new trial date will be set for the trial to proceed without undue delay,” added Makeke.