Dear Honourable Members,

I am writing to formally request that the Department provide a detailed account of the total legal costs incurred to date by Legal Aid South Africa in the defence of the accused in the murder trial of Mr. Senzo Meyiwa.

Furthermore, I wish to raise concern regarding the lack of publicly available data on Legal Aid South Africa’s annual expenditure per criminal case.

As a taxpayer, I believe this information is vital for transparency and accountability. Publishing such data would not only promote public trust in the justice system but also ensure that resources are being allocated responsibly and equitably.

I urge the Committee to consider recommending that Legal Aid South Africa implement a system for annual disclosure of case-specific legal expenditures, particularly in high-profile or prolonged matters.

Thank you.