NPA hits back at ‘contempt threat’ against Abrahams, Jiba

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has hit back at Freedom Under Law (FUL) for threatening national director of public prosecutions Shaun Abrahams and his deputy Nomgcobo Jiba with contempt of court proceedings.

FUL earlier issued a strongly worded statement in which it accused Abrahams and Jiba of “either having no regard for the courts and the law or being ignorant of the effect of court orders”.

FUL’s CEO Nicole Fritz said Abrahams and Jiba were not fit for public office, let alone two of the highest law-enforcement positions in the country and the rights group had instructed their attorneys to prepare an application seeking contempt of court orders against them.

Fritz described a letter by the state attorney which conceded Jiba had visited the NPA’s office on several occasions as “alarming”.

According to FUL, Jiba’s visits were in breach of a court order prohibiting her from entering the NPA offices or performing functions relating to her position in the NPA pending the finalisation of her appeal against the striking of her name from the roll of advocates.

Fritz said the letter confirmed Abrahams was aware of Jiba’s visits and sought to justify them “on an alarming misunderstanding of the judgment and applicable law”.

NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku said FUL’s intended legal action was “marked with hatred for the incumbent [Abrahams] by an organisation which has relentlessly pursued Abrahams since his appointment three years ago”.