The leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) Bantu Holomisa has called for the suitability of the head of the national prosecuting authority (NPA), Advocate Shamila Batohi, to hold that position to be evaluated.
This after it was reported that the NPA has refused to prosecute Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane and has acted slowly on taking any action against him despite a Hawks docket being handed over to the NPA five months ago.
The Mail & Guardian reported that the NPA was dragging its feet reportedly because Mabuyane is close to African National Congress (ANC) and state president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mabuyane, and Eastern Cape MEC and ANC provincial Treasurer Babalo Madikizela, were recently implicated in one of Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s reports which found that the pair, including the party in the province, benefited to the tune of R450 000, R350 000 and R280 000, respectively from R1.1million siphoned out of the coffers of the provincial government.
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According to Mkhwebane’s report, the monies were siphoned from the public purse under the pretext that the money was going to be used to ferry mourners to the memorial service of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Mkhwebane has since rejected the Eastern Cape ANC’s claims that her office is involved in the party’s factions; that the report was timed to coincide with the provincial ANC’s election campaign and that the investigation report implicating Mabuyane and Madikizela was ready two months ago.
On Thursday evening, Holomisa shared on Twitter a screenshot of the headline about the NPA’s refusal to prosecute Mabuyane with a caption questioning whether the authority has been captured.
The caption further reads: “This is the institution which fails the country’s criminal justice system. It’s time to evaluate the suitability of the NPA Head.”
A captured NPA ? This is the institution which fails the country’s criminal justice system. It’s time to evaluate the suitability of the NPA Head. pic.twitter.com/iWa68CFW3w
— Bantu Holomisa (@BantuHolomisa) October 14, 2021
Meanwhile, it was reported that Mabuyane and Madikizela have said that they will only adhere to the ANC’s step aside rule once they have been formally charged by the party’s national executive committee (NEC).
Oscar Mabuyane & Babalo Madikizela won’t step aside until they are formally charged as per the NEC step aside guidelines, with the serious allegations they facing for now all that can happen is they can be hurled upon to the Provincial Integrity Commission. pic.twitter.com/3LRYx5eMw9
— #TheLordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) October 14, 2021
Carl Niehaus, a Jacob Zuma loyalist who recently returned to the ANC’s fold after his temporary suspension was lifted, has called on Ramaphosa to take action against Mabuyane.
What nonsense clownery is this now? I thought @OscarMabuyane claimed to be innocent? Really, President @CyrilRamaphosa must act against him. He is messing up and bringing our @MYANC into disrepute on the eve of the elections. pic.twitter.com/VlQkCkGXHi
— Carl Niehaus (@niehaus_carl) October 14, 2021
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