Controversial prosecutions boss Menzi Simelane has effectively demoted five top prosecutors, which could lead to futher court delays and the threat of legal action, according to a Johannesburg newspaper report.

The Star reports that one of the men in the prosecution team in the rape trial of President Jacob Zuma has effectively been given the responsibilities of a clerk.

Mutuwa Nengovhela, who was part of the Zuma prosecution team, was a deputy director based at the Johannesburg High Court. He has been demoted to the Family Court, according to the report.

Meanwhile, chief prosecutor Andre Lamprecht has been demoted to an ordinary prosecutor.

Lamprecht was reportedly demoted after he refused to obey Simelane's instruction not to oppose bail for hip-hop musician Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye.

Jub Jub faces four counts of murder and two counts of reckless and negligent driving, together with Themba Tshabalala, after crashing into a group of school children in Soweto.

Three other prosecutors have been demoted without notice or a disciplinary hearing, according to The Star.

NPA spokesperson Bulelwa Makeke denied that the prosecutors had been demoted.

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