TheJohn MaythamShow

The apparent stalling on investigating the leaked Gupta emails is a sign that the NPA and Hawks are compromised, the Helen Suzman Foundation has argued.

The foundation's Francis Antonie says claims of political interference at the state institutions are probable, considering their track record and leadership woes.

Antonie advises that leadership challenges at both the NPA and Hawks further compromise the investigative process.

Read: 'Hawks must urgently investigate Gupta emails to restore public trust'

This comes after Sunday reports by the City Press that prosecutors guiding the investigation believe the leaked emails are not admissible evidence.

Antoniee explains that a thorough investigation is the only way to determine whether the tranche of documents was illegally obtained or leaked.

Antonie: It seems to us that both the NPA and the Hawks are paralyzed or captured or under political pressure not to proceed on #GuptaLeaks.

— 702 (@Radio702) August 13, 2017

He says that, until there is evidence proving otherwise, the public must assume that the emails are legitimate.

Unless hawks and NPA get act together, we'll never know.

— Francis Antonie, Executive Director at Helen Suzman Foundation 

"Until it's proven that the emails were stolen or tampered with, the public should assume that they are true. It's a reasonable assumption."

— 702 (@Radio702) August 13, 2017

The NPA has denied media reports that its prosecutors have raised questions about the legality of the leaked Gupta emails.

Antonie says that until leadership issues are fixed at the state institutions, they will remain dysfunctional.

He referenced several cases and examples involving the NPA and Hawks and spoke about the role of civil society to compel the institutions to act.

Take a listen to the discussion: