Abrahams upbeat over future

Former National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams has confirmed that he is “officially unemployed” but maintains he is positive about his future.

“I’m taking this on the chin‚” he told the Dispatch.

“I love the National Prosecuting Authority. It’s been my life. It’s been my career. But the reality is that life must go on.

“Life is not always fair and‚ because life is not always fair‚ you need to take the lemons thrown at you and try to do something positive.”

The Constitutional Court on Monday ruled that Abrahams’s appointment was a consequence of an unconstitutional “abuse of power” by former president Jacob Zuma.

The court found that Zuma had effectively “bought” the removal of former NPA head Mxolisi Nxasana with a R17.3m “golden handshake”. His subsequent appointment of Abrahams was therefore invalid.

Abrahams said he was disappointed by the decision.

“But I don’t regret that I took this job,” he said.

“I was always a prosecutor‚ not a politician.

“I feel like I walked away with my head held high.”

Abrahams did not want to be drawn on how he felt about being referred to as “Shaun the Sheep” and repeatedly facing accusations that he was nothing more than a political puppet.

“I do have an innate ability to shut things out and to just keep going. That’s what I did.”

About his future, he said: “At this stage‚ I don’t know – but I will not be lost to the legal fraternity. I look forward to serving society in a capacity in which I could meaningfully contribute.” –