Get rid of all the vipers
SHAUN Abrahams’ removal from the post of National Director of Public Prosecutions is a welcome development. He was evidently too aligned to the Jacob Zuma faction of the ANC to trust that he could fulfil the requirements of this critical post impartially. Where everybody else – outside of the Zuma faction – could see that the former president had a case – several, in fact – to answer, Abrahams demurred and dithered, earning himself the nickname “Shaun the Sheep”.
He was also unable to prosecute Zuma’s son Duduzane on culpable homicide charges despite a court’s recommendation. Nor could he discipline his staff for obstruction of justice, again despite the recommendation of a court.
This was because, like himself, they were all Zuma appointees put in place to ensure he would not be prosecuted. He seemed to find his feet only once Zuma had left office, deciding that, indeed, the State had a winnable case against JZ.
It would be tempting to think that the woes which plagued the National Prosecuting Authority during the Zuma years are over with Abrahams’ departure, but that would be a mistake as there are tainted individuals still in their positions at the NPA who threaten the integrity of that institution. These include Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi, the two deputy directors found by a judge not to be “fit and proper” for their jobs.
This concerned their decision to drop charges against former Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli, who faced a number of charges, including that he had dipped into a secret slush fund. The pair’s fate now rests in the hands of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has initiated moves to suspend and subject them to disciplinary processes. Abrahams was himself castigated by a court for being a Zuma lackey. It’s unsettling that while the Constitutional Court declared his appointment as national prosecutions chief invalid, it didn’t make a pronouncement on his fitness to hold office.
This means Abrahams, Zuma’s stooge, is possibly eligible to return to an NPA role. We find this unacceptable. Abrahams, who sacrificed his integrity to keep Zuma out of court, should never again be in a position to influence prosecutorial decisions. If Ramaphosa is serious about cleaning up, he must rid the nest of all the vipers.
Ramaphosa, who has appointed Silas Ramaite as acting prosecutions boss, has been given 90 days to appoint a new NPA head; someone we hope is independent, honest, credible, impartial and capable. We accept this isn’t an easy task, and question whether 90 days is sufficient to find a suitable candidate. With no prosecutions boss in the democratic era yet to serve a full term, the position is evidently a poisoned chalice.