Jiba, Mrwebi ‘bad for NPA’

Former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Mxolisi Nxasana said during his time political and external interference and a failure to act against now disgraced former NPA officials Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi had an adverse effect on the NPA.

Nxasana was yesterday again testifying at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

He said political and external interference in decision making at the NPA “undermined its integrity and effectiveness and served to erode public confidence in the organisation”.

“And also the failure to act decisively against Jiba and Mrwebi in particular harmed the organisation. In my view, the parliamentary committee on justice did little or nothing to exercise appropriate oversight or to intervene in the issues and, chair, I stress, in the issues concerning Jiba and Mrwebi,” Nxasana said.

He had told the commission that an inquiry into the NPA, which Jiba and Mrwebi did not want to cooperate with, resulted in criminal charges being brought against the two.

These recommendations were reportedly forwarded to the minister of justice and correctional services at the time, Michael Masutha, and later former president Jacob Zuma. However, the latter did not act on this and did not give any reasons for failing to do so.

Zondo said when he makes his recommendations, these would include measures that must be taken to ensure that parliament performs its oversight role if found it had failed to do so.

Nxasana also told the commission that at the time he vacated the office after a settlement agreement was signed – which saw him receive a R17 million golden handshake – he was at an advanced stage of reviewing a matter involving Durban-based businessperson Thoshan Panday.

“Unfortunately, at the time I left I had not taken the decision to reinstate the charges against Panday,” Nxasana said.

In 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled Zuma had abused his powers when he used a R17 million golden handshake to get rid of Nxasana and appoint Shaun Abrahams instead.

The court ruled the payment was unlawful and ordered Nxasana to repay R10 million.

The parliamentary committee did little or nothing to exercise appropriate oversight or to intervene in the issues.

Mxolisi Nxasana Former NPA boss