African National Congress (ANC) heavyweight Mathews Phosa will on Monday write to the General Council of the Bar to investigate National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shaun Abrahams.
He told Radio 702 that this was because “the NPA cannot be a lapdog of the Presidency as is currently the case”‚ following its decision last week to summons Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan on fraud charges.
When asked if he thought Abrahams was - like NPA advocates Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi - not “fit and proper” to be an advocate‚ Phosa said: “I am asking them to investigate like they did with Jiba and her colleagues.”
Jiba and Mrwebi were recently struck from the roll after a court ruled their conduct in politically controversial cases made them unfit to be advocates. “Pravin Gordhan must be left to do the business of the people‚ including rooting out corruption‚ without fear or favour…there’s no case against him‚ I don’t think there is any case. South Africans must be vigilant against people who want to pervert the system and corrupt it‚” said Phosa
He said he believes the head of the NPA should be appointed by Parliament not the president‚ so there can “be a degree of independence…accountability must be to Parliament not the president‚ full stop”.
Addressing questions about a divided ANC leadership‚ Phosa said: “The ANC is capable of discussing any issue‚ including this one.
“There is a way out for the ANC. We must be guided by honesty and integrity.”
He attacked the “arrogance” of the Gupta family‚ and said they way they believed they ran the Presidency was “insulting”. – TMG Digital
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