The Citizen (KZN)

NPA to decide on Zuma poisoning

- Simnikiwe Hlatshanen­i

The docket related to the alleged poisoning of President Jacob Zuma in 2014 will soon be handed back to the National Prosecutin­g Authority (NPA) for a decision to prosecute, according to the Hawks.

But the investigat­ive unit would not say whether First Lady Nompumelel­o Ntuli-Zuma was still a suspect in the matter. In 2015, Ntuli-Zuma was questioned by the Hawks after a docket was opened investigat­ing allegation­s of attempted murder by police in Nkandla, KZN.

Yesterday, media reports claimed a source from the police confirmed that Ntuli-Zuma could be arrested in the next few weeks for allegedly poisoning her husband.

Hawks spokespers­on Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said he had no knowledge of her imminent arrest, but confirmed that the investigat­ion was close to completion and would be handed over to the NPA in the next few weeks.

“The Hawks were done with the investigat­ion and it was handed over to the NPA, but then the NPA sent the docket back pointing out a few technical issues that had to be dealt with. Those issues are now being dealt with and being finalised and once that is done it will be taken back to the NPA.”

Earlier this year, Ntuli-Zuma’s lawyer Ulrich Roux confirmed she was still a suspect in the case, but was waiting for a decision on whether or not she would be charged.

She was kicked out of the Zuma homestead in January last year by State Security Minister David Mahlobo. NPA head Shaun Abrahams confirmed her as a suspect in November last year.

Earlier this month, Zuma told supporters at an ANC gathering in KZN that he had survived being poisoned three times.

 ?? Picture: EPA ?? HAPPIER DAYS. President Jacob Zuma arrives with Nompumelel­o Ntuli-Zuma for a welcoming ceremony in India in 2010.
Picture: EPA HAPPIER DAYS. President Jacob Zuma arrives with Nompumelel­o Ntuli-Zuma for a welcoming ceremony in India in 2010.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa