Deadline for Jiba, Mrwebi inquiry

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa wants the inquiry into the fitness of advocates Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi to hold office to be done and dusted by early next year.

In a notice published in the government gazette on November 29, retired Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, who heads the inquiry, said: “The inquiry is to furnish a report with all supporting documentation to the president by not later than March 9”.

The notice calls on the public, including interested institutions and organs of state with special interest and/or knowledge to provide evidence to the inquiry.

The notice also set out the specific deadline on the envisaged work of the commission.

On October 25, Ramaphosa announced his decision to institute an inquiry into the fitness of Jiba and Mrwebi to hold office.

This after he gave the pair an opportunity to make submissions in August on why they should not be suspended pending this enquiry.

Both Jiba, who is deputy national director for public prosecutions, and Mrwebi, a special director for public prosecutions, are currently on suspension on full pay.

In her notice, Mokgoro said the inquiry was not a judicial inquiry nor a disciplinary hearing or a trial.

“The enquiry is not determining whether anyone should face criminal prosecution nor whether anyone is civilly liable for any breaches of the law,” she said.

Mokgoro had given the public and interested parties until November 20 to inform the secretariat of the inquiry of their wish to provide evidence.

The secretariat was to have responded by December 3 to confirm acceptance.

She also said parties wishing to make written submissions should do so by not later than January 8.

“Written submissions must be concise and succinct with reference to relevant law, and must be furnished under cover of brief summary.”

Mokgoro also said she would use her discretion on any person to make oral submission between January 14 and February 11.

‘A failure by a deponent to avail himself or herself on request for an oral hearing and/ or cross examination on the date and time determined, is likely to impact on the weight afforded to such evidence.”