NPA’s Nomgcobo Jiba unmasked as a spy
Jiba said to have had agent number and flown courtesy of SSA
Was disgraced advocate Nomgcobo Jiba moonlighting as a state security agent while working as one of the country’s top prosecutors?
Documents from a Hawks investigation into the former acting national director of public prosecutions suggest as much.
A report written by a Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Viljoen to Colonel Kobus Roelofse of the Hawks states that Jiba made use of a “crime intelligence account” held at a Durban travel agency and that the invoice number allocated to this transaction was referred as a payment to “SA71”, which, Roelofse says, was an agent number assigned to Jiba.
In the Hawks report, Viljoen further details how Jiba flew between Johannesburg and Durban in September 2010 with a ticket paid for by the State Security Agency.
Jiba on Friday refused to comment on the claims that she was an agent for one of the country’s spy agencies and on the possible conflict of interest in her role as the country’s second-most-senior public prosecutor.
“These are very tired news from your faceless mischief-makers in pursuance of sinister agendas which do not warrant any response from me,” she said.
Jiba was struck off the roll of advocates last year following court judgments calling into question her fitness to hold office.
Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said yesterday the docket detailing the claims had been sent to the NPA but had since gone missing. “It has, however, transpired from our NPA colleagues that they do not have any record of the docket. We have thus taken responsibility to locate the docket and feedback will be provided soonest.”
According to an initial Hawks report, the investigation was conducted in 2012 by Roelofse. It was known as Project Libambe Lingashoni — “Hold Up The Sun”.
Suspended crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli has previously alleged that the project was targeted at him.
In the report, Viljoen writes to Roelofse: “Your request relating if there is any evidence that Advocate N Jiba also made use of the crime intelligence account held at Westville travel and paid out of the secret service account . . . the invoice number 155 allocated to this transaction also refer[s] as payment to SA71 which is an agent number which means that N Jiba is a registered agent.
“It has also been established that this flight were paid out of the SSA fund 201009-15 with cheque number 5426 out of UTE account.”
Viljoen says in the report that at the time of the trip, Jiba, advocate Lawrence Mrwebi and Mdluli were investigating former state prosecutor advocate Gerrie Nel.
Viljoen’s report said: “Enquiries at the airport today 2012-05-09 has linked the ticket to an N Jiba with identity . . . enquiries made by me on the SAPS system has established that the identity number belongs to Nomgcobo Jiba . . . who is currently acting National Director of Public Prosecution.”
The final Hawks report was submitted to the NPA.
Viljoen also revealed that he had uncovered a close relationship between Jiba and Mdluli. “I have also obtained evidence as well as a sworn statement made by Mdluli on behalf of advocate Jiba in court case which clearly spells out the close association. I possess also other evidence . . .”
When he was contacted for comment and clarity on his report, Viljoen referred all inquiries to the Hawks.
NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said these were not new allegations but did not comment on what the NPA did when the investigation was referred to it by the Hawks.
“Advocate Jiba categorically stated to the NDPP that she is not and was never an agent for any law enforcement or intelligence agency, nor has she ever received any payment from them. We therefore dismiss the allegations as baseless.” Mfaku referred further inquiries to the Hawks.
In a scathing judgment last year, judges Francis Legodi and Wendy Hughes were highly critical of Jiba and Mrwebi’s attempts to protect Mdluli.
Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies said this raised concerns about Jiba being able to act independently as an officer of the court.
These are very tired news from your faceless mischiefmakers Nomgcobo Jiba Ex-acting national director of public prosecutions