NPA: Zuma has to end of November

Countdown starts on prosecution of President

THE National Prosecuting Authority has given President Jacob Zuma until the end of November to make representations on why he should not face criminal prosecution.

In a statement yesterday, NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said the NPA believed Zuma would not be able to raise the same issues as those presented to the former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe.

The NPA statement was in reaction to the Supreme Court of Appeal on 13 October 2017 which upheld a high court judgement that Mpshe’s decision not to prosecute Zuma on 783 counts of charges involving fraud, corruption and money laundering was irrational.

Mfaku said that after a meeting between National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shaun Abrahams, and the acting head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, Major-General Yolisa Matakata, on the availability of witnesses and documentary evidence in the case it was decided that at least 30 days would be needed to assess the availability of witnesses and any factor which may or may not impact on the feasibility of the re-enrolment of the matter.

“As such, the investigating officer is expected to revert to the NPA hereon by no later than 30 November 2017.”

“The NDPP is of the view that in light of the judgment of the SCA, it appears that any further representations envisaged by Zuma should relate to issues not previously considered.

“As a result, Mr Zuma has been advised through his lawyers that he has until 30 November 2017 to submit any envisaged representations to the NDPP.”

On the SCA’s criticism of former acting NDPP, Willie Hofmeyr, the statement said the NDPP regarded this in an “extremely serious light” and had written to Hofmeyr, asking him to provide his comments.

The NDPP would advise on the way forward after receiving feedback from the investigating officer and having considered representations. — DDR