AfriForum to go after Jiba

Lobby group AfriForum says it is ready to privately prosecute deputy national director of public prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba following the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA) decision on Tuesday to overturn her being struck off the roll of advocates.

The court overturned the striking off the advocates’ roll of Jiba and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) specialised commercial crimes head Lawrence Mrwebi.

In a majority judgment, the SCA upheld Jiba and Mrwebi’s appeal against a 2016 ruling by the High Court in Pretoria with costs.

The two were struck off the roll in 2016 for their handling of former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli’s case. The SCA ruled they should be reinstated.

The lobby group said the SCA’s decision would “not be an obstacle in the presumed criminal charges against Jiba”.

AfriForum head of anticorruption unit Monique Taute said in a statement the group would proceed with the process of privately prosecuting Jiba.

“The NPA now has no reason not to make a decision regarding AfriForum’s application for a nolle prosequi certificate,” Taute said.

“It is now even more vital that Jiba is criminally prosecuted. The NPA’s answer to our request for a nolle prosequi certificate was that they will base their decision pending the judgment of this appeal process. The NPA now has no choice other than to announce their decision regarding the reinstitution of Jiba’s prosecution. If the NPA decides not to prosecute, AfriForum’s private prosecution unit is at the ready to privately prosecute her,” Taute said.

The lobby group announced last year that it would seek to privately prosecute Jiba on charges of fraud and perjury.

It was reported at the time that AfriForum sought to prosecute Jiba for allegedly defeating the ends of justice for her part in an alleged plan to hinder a corruption case against a KwaZulu-Natal businessperson linked to former president Jacob Zuma.

AfriForum was acting on behalf of former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Johan Booysen who, according to the group, had been targeted for initiating investigations against the Zuma-linked businessperson.

Meanwhile, Eyewitness News reports former state prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach said the SCA’s decision to reinstate Jiba and Mrwebi would have serious repercussions for the NPA. – Citizen reporter

The NPA now has no reason not to make a decision regarding AfriForum’s application for a

certificate. Monique Taute AfriForum head of anticorruption unit