Publication: Mail and Guardian Issued: Date: 2007-10-05 Reporter: Hajra Omarjee

ANC Leaders Divided over Pikoli Axing

 

Publication 

Mail and Guardian
Date

2007-10-05

Reporter

Hajra Omarjee

Web Link

www.mg.co.za

 

President Thabo Mbeki’s suspension of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Vusi Pikoli has caused deep divisions in the African National Congress (ANC), with some senior party members calling the action “very suspicious”.

The cabinet convened a special meeting last Thursday, while Mbeki was at the United Nations General Assembly in New York .

The meeting, which resolved to keep its discussions confidential, came just hours before allegations that a warrant of arrest had been issued for national police commissioner Jackie Selebi were leaked to the media. Business Day understands, though it could not be independently confirmed, that the cabinet was unanimous in its view that Selebi should not remain in office.

The ANC is already under strain from the race for the party’s presidency, in which Mbeki and party deputy president Jacob Zuma are front runners.

Business Day has been told by two senior ANC leaders that they found events over the past two weeks ­ to do with Pikoli’s suspension ­ unexpected and even “ suspicious”, pointing out that the Scorpions (the investigative wing of the NPA) was “created by Mbeki” and its heads have always been “Mbeki’s men”.

Mbeki’s official reason for suspending Pikoli and launching an inquiry into his fitness to hold office is an “irretrievable breakdown” in the relationship between him and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes there is more to the suspension than the government is letting on.

Sandra Botha, DA leader in Parliament, said yesterday her party had lodged an application with the NPA under the Promotion of Access to Information Act to obtain copies of the warrants allegedly issued in relation to Selebi. The NPA has refused to confirm or deny the existence of the warrants.

The head of the inquiry, ANC veteran Frene Ginwala, yesterday ducked a planned media briefing and instead released a re-hashed *1 version of Mbeki’s terms of reference *1 for the probe.

A member of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) questioned whether Ginwala was fit to lead the process *2.

“Dr Ginwala is an honest person but is it appropriate that a person who is politically active rules on this matter? A judge would have the training to find the truth,” the NEC member said.

The probe will focus on whether Pikoli considered “national security ” when making decisions, especially when granting immunity from prosecution or reaching plea bargains with organised crime figures.

There has been much speculation about why Pikoli was suspended. Claims that the reason was because Pikoli had obtained warrants for Selebi’s arrest were inadvertently given substance when the government released the terms of reference for the Ginwala inquiry on Tuesday.

Selebi has said he is a friend of alleged drug kingpin Glenn Agliotti. It has been rumoured that Agliotti, accused of murdering mining magnate Brett Kebble, entered into a plea bargain with the NPA after his bail application.

The Kebble case returns to court today.

With acknowledgements to Hajra Omarjee and Mail and Guardian.


*1       The Big Fish never changes its spots.
*2      Fit to lead the process?