LISTEN: DA wants Jiba to face inquiry

LISTEN: DA wants Jiba to face inquiry

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) deputy head Nomgcobo Jiba is unfit to hold office and should be included in the inquiry into her boss Mxolisi Nxasana, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.

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"What is clear is that one person is being politically favoured, having committed worse crimes," DA Parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane told reporters in Johannesburg.


"Our view is that the president is protecting Miss Jiba [and] wants to deal with Mr Nxasana ultimately to avoid his own prosecution in long run.


"We can't have a president who... will apply an irrational process in appointing and setting up an inquiry against a sitting head of the National Prosecuting Authority."


Formal submission


The DA intended on making a formal submission to President Jacob Zuma to have Jiba included in the inquiry.


Last year, Zuma announced an inquiry into Nxasana to determine his fitness to hold office.


This was after reports emerged that he had not been given security clearance because of past cases against him, which included not being tried for murder 30 years ago.


He was acquitted of the charge based on his version of self-defence.


Jiba is currently facing criminal charges of fraud and perjury.


The General Council of the Bar (GCB) has also announced that it would bring a high court application to bar Jiba, special director of the specialised commercial crimes unit Lawrence Mrwebi, and North Gauteng director of public prosecutions Sibongile Mzinyathi from practice.


Alternatively, it wanted to have them struck from the advocates' roll.


'Gross miscarriage of justice'


The DA on Thursday, said for Zuma to absolve Jiba of a probe would be a "gross miscarriage of justice".


DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said Jiba had operated with Machiavellian efficiency and impunity, destroying the NPA.


"She clearly thought she could do so without consequence, enjoying the protection of the president," Breytenbach said.


"Ms Jiba has, since the onset of her career in this office, behaved in a manner most unbecoming of a prosecutor, and has brought the NPA into disrepute in the process."


Breytenbach was herself a former prosecutor at the NPA. She was suspended from the prosecuting authority and faced a disciplinary hearing.


In May 2013, the NPA disciplinary hearing found her not guilty and allowed her to return to work, however, she had been transferred.


Breytenbch tried to apply to have her transfer overturned in the Labour Court but was unsuccessful.

 

She resigned and joined the DA as an MP.


The DA said the president had no choice but to suspend Jiba and institute an inquiry into her behaviour.

 

 

News24.com

NewsWire ID : 163 

File photo: Gallo images

 

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