Top prosecutor Gerrie Nel resigns‚ shocks South Africa

State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has quit‚ citing "other interests" when he gave notice to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). However‚ questions about his possible motive are rapidly mounting.

Luvuyo Mfaku‚ NPA spokesperson‚ told TimesLIVE that Nel handed his resignation to his boss‚ Advocate Sibongile Mzinyathi‚ the director of public prosecutions in Pretoria.

• READ MORE: Gerrie Nel's 3 biggest trials - and the ones who got awayAdvocate Gerrie Nel‚ who has resigned from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)‚ dubbed "The Pitbull" for his never-back-down attitude during cross-examination of witnesses‚ worked on some of the biggest cases in South Africa during his 35 year career as a prosecutor. 

Nel‚ he said‚ has cited other interests outside the NPA.

"The NPA wishes Nel well in his future endevours. We have other highly capable prosecutors who will take over his current cases.

"In the cases that Nel is working on‚ he has a team of prosecutors who will help to carry on with these cases as they have intrinsic knowledge of these cases."

•  READ MORE: 'Only a labourer would act like that' - Oscar Pistorius family smackdown of Gerrie NelArnold Pistorius‚ the uncle of disgraced Paralympian and convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius‚ who was prosecuted by Gerrie Nel‚ says only a day laborer would resign with 24 hours notice. 

South Africans have responded with shock to the news.

Ayanda Mpofu ‏@AyandaMpofu2 tweeted‚ "Gerrie Nel‚ 24 hour resignation notice‚ so sudden...there's something fishy about Nel's resignation‚ what or who is he running from?" while Botlalo ‏@dionbotlalo shared‚ "This move does not come as a surprise. NPA has become a mockery of our justice system. More revelations to come soon".

Commenting on Nel's reputation‚ Nicca ‏@Miss_T147 shared‚ "Gerrie Nel gave us hope that there is justice in Satafrika afterall" while Zulu Royal ‏@BusieSMkhize commented‚ "Prosecutor Gerrie Nel quits. What a loss. The NPA is going to the dogs".

•  READ MORE: Gerrie Nel to team up with Afriforum to launch privately driven criminal prosecutionsAdvocate Gerrie Nel‚ who today resigned as a prosecutor‚ is to head a private prosecution team which AfriForum is currently establishing‚ TimesLIVE has learnt.