'NPA is gunning for me because of DA's Jiba case'

Tomorrow at 7am, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach and her lawyer, Gerhard Wagenaar, will report to Kgosi Mampuru II Prison for her to be arrested.

Later in the day, the former head of the National Prosecuting Authority's specialised commercial crimes unit will face her former employer in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on charges of defeating the ends of justice and contravening the NPA Act.

Yesterday, Breytenbach declared herself ready to battle what she termed a "mild irritation" with political undertones. She also commented on her much-discussed friendship with British security industry kingpin Natie Kirsh.

NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed yesterday that the charges were related to Breytenbach's alleged destruction of files on a computer belonging to the NPA.

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Mfaku denied that Breytenbach was being victimised or that political motives were at play in her case and said Torie Pretorius, the nonpolitical veteran head of the priority crimes litigation unit, based his decision on the likelihood of a successful prosecution.

Breytenbach said she was irritated but not surprised.

"All of these issues were fully traversed in the disciplinary hearings against me, all of which ended in my acquittal. All the personal files I deleted [are] on the departmental server anyway, so they can retrieve [them] if they want [them], as was proved during the hearing.

"I don't know why the NPA keeps pursuing the matter. You'd best ask them, but I suspect the continued pressure applied by the DA in several courts is having an effect.

"We are arguing before the Western Cape High Court that Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba is unfit to hold the position of deputy national director of public prosecutions based on judgments [handed down] by the KwaZulu-Natal and the North Gauteng high courts, and the Supreme Court of Appeal on affidavits she submitted.

"Furthermore, my original suspension from the NPA followed directly on my written memorandum to advocate Jiba that charges against Richard Mdluli, the former head of police crime intelligence, were irregularly dropped by her.

"I wrote that I would take her decision on judicial review if she did not revoke it. Two days later, I was suspended. Go figure," said Breytenbach.

She believes the charges against her are spurious.

"I've been there and done that. I am not in the least bit concerned about them. I've always said name the court and I'll defend myself.

"The charges are an irritation, a waste of time and an embarrassment, and it is clear that they have been timed to embarrass the DA and me as much as possible," she said.

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"The DA has been fully supportive of me and I disclosed full information on the matter when I became a politician."

DA federal executive chairman James Selfe said it was instructive that the charges against Breytenbach had been laid at the same time as the party' s court action against Jiba.

"The DA regards the charges against Glynnis Breytenbach as trumped up. We also regard her as innocent until proven guilty and stand by her," Selfe said.

Breytenbach said she had been friends with the 84-year-old Kirsh for 15 years.

"He is like a father figure to me. He walks on water. When I was shot at the first time after my suspension, he lent me his bulletproof car, which I am no longer using.

"I declared the use of the car in the parliamentary register. I have now returned it," she said, denying any impropriety in her relationship with Kirsh.

joubertj@sundaytimes.co.za