ID’S PATRICIA DE LILLE LAYS CRIMINAL CHARGE AGAINST FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER BRIGITTE MABANDLA
11 DECEMBER 2008-ID President Patricia de Lille has laid a charge against former Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla at the Caledon Square Police Station in Cape Town in terms of Section 32 (1) (b) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, which reads,
ID President Patricia de Lille has laid a charge against former Justice
Minister Brigitte Mabandla at the Caledon Square Police Station in Cape
Town in terms of Section 32 (1) (b) of the National Prosecuting
Authority Act, which reads,
“Subject to the Constitution and this act, no organ of state, and no member or employee of an organ of state nor any other person shall improperly interfere with, hinder or obstruct the prosecuting authority or any member thereof in the exercise, carrying our or performance of its, his or her powers, duties and functions.”
‘We in the Independent Democrats have laid this charge because based on the findings of the Ginwala Commission, it appears that the former Minister of Justice interfered with the workings of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA),’ Ms De Lille says.
If Mabandla is found guilty of the charge against her, she faces stiff fines and a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The Ginwala Commission referred to a letter signed by Mabandla and sent to former NPA head Vusi Pikoli, which instructed the latter to halt his prosecution of suspended Police chief Jackie Selebi until the Minister was convinced that there was enough evidence and information to arrest him.
On page 178 of her report, Ginwala says this instruction could represent a breach of the NPA Act, ‘an allegations that should be urgently investigated by the NPA,’ says De Lille.
‘The Independent Democrats wants to teach the ANC and the Government the importance of the constitutional principle that we are all equal before the law.
‘Many of the leaders in the ANC and Government think that they are above the law. One of the key principles of our struggle against Apartheid was to create a society where we are all equal before the law,’ De Lille says.
‘We in the Independent Democrats have laid this charge against Mabandla to protect the NPA and the Constitution from any political interference. MPs are here to make the law, not break it.’
For media enquiries, please call Steven Otter, ID National Media Officer, on 084 233 3811
“Subject to the Constitution and this act, no organ of state, and no member or employee of an organ of state nor any other person shall improperly interfere with, hinder or obstruct the prosecuting authority or any member thereof in the exercise, carrying our or performance of its, his or her powers, duties and functions.”
‘We in the Independent Democrats have laid this charge because based on the findings of the Ginwala Commission, it appears that the former Minister of Justice interfered with the workings of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA),’ Ms De Lille says.
If Mabandla is found guilty of the charge against her, she faces stiff fines and a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The Ginwala Commission referred to a letter signed by Mabandla and sent to former NPA head Vusi Pikoli, which instructed the latter to halt his prosecution of suspended Police chief Jackie Selebi until the Minister was convinced that there was enough evidence and information to arrest him.
On page 178 of her report, Ginwala says this instruction could represent a breach of the NPA Act, ‘an allegations that should be urgently investigated by the NPA,’ says De Lille.
‘The Independent Democrats wants to teach the ANC and the Government the importance of the constitutional principle that we are all equal before the law.
‘Many of the leaders in the ANC and Government think that they are above the law. One of the key principles of our struggle against Apartheid was to create a society where we are all equal before the law,’ De Lille says.
‘We in the Independent Democrats have laid this charge against Mabandla to protect the NPA and the Constitution from any political interference. MPs are here to make the law, not break it.’
For media enquiries, please call Steven Otter, ID National Media Officer, on 084 233 3811
