There were a number of instances where a breakdown in the working relationship with Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla was discussed with suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Vusi Pikoli.
This is according to government spokesperson Themba Maseko, who was speaking at a press conference at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday.
Maseko reiterated that President Thabo Mbeki’s reason for suspending Pikoli was the breakdown of the relationship between Pikoli and Mabandla.
He said Mbeki did try to improve relations between two of his top legal minds, but was unable to do so.
”In spite of the many interventions he put in place to try to deal with the causes of this breakdown, the situation did not improve, largely because there was no positive response by the national director,” Maseko said.
He ”categorically” denied reports that the suspension was to protect police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi from prosecution, saying ”there would be no basis” for Mbeki to protect the commissioner.
Several newspaper articles over the weekend suggested that a warrant of arrest had been obtained for Selebi by the National Prosecuting Authority.
Maseko said government would give no further details on the reasons for Pikoli’s suspension as this might pre-empt the outcome of a hearing by former speaker of the National Assembly Frene Ginwala into the matter.
”The president wants to avoid at all cost [the situation] where there will be a trial by the media of the director,” he said.
He admitted that this might fuel continued speculation on the matter.
In the meantime, acting NDPP Mokotedi Mpshe would review all cases that were being handled by Pikoli.
”All cases that are before the [acting] NDPP at this stage would be subjected to review with a view to assessing whether there is sufficient evidence for those cases to proceed,” Maseko said.
”The national director will look at all cases. If there is a case of Selebi in front of him or a warrant in front of him, he would look at those cases to see if he would proceed or not.”
He said Ginwala would soon announce the details of how she would conduct her hearing and what the timeframe would be.
”She would like to commence and conclude the inquiry as soon as possible because this matter is of national importance.”
Maseko said the NPA would also soon hold a media conference to confirm whether or not a warrant for Selebi’s arrest had been issued.
Meanwhile, the failure of Maseko to confirm the existence of an arrest warrant against Selebi was described as ”absurd” by the leader of the parliamentary opposition, Sandra Botha of the Democratic Alliance, on Monday evening.
She said that South Africa’s international reputation is being damaged on a daily basis by the controversy surrounding the president’s decision to suspend Pikoli.
”This has now been exacerbated by the absurd response by the government’s chief spokesperson,” she said. ”There is also little reason to believe the categorical denial today [Monday] that the suspension was not meant to protect … Selebi in the absence of government shedding any new light on this matter.”
Not aware of warrant
Meanwhile, Selebi has said he would be prepared to defend himself in court against any allegations he had links to organised crime.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported last week that prosecutors had secured an arrest warrant for Selebi, who is also president of international police organisation Interpol.
The Sunday Times reported there was a warrant for Selebi on charges including racketeering and corruption.
In an interview broadcast on Monday on South Africa’s Talk Radio 702, Selebi said he was not aware of a warrant but would cooperate with any investigation as long as it was not part of a political campaign to discredit him.
Asked if he would like to have his day in court, Selebi said: ”If there are allegations that can be proven, I would like to, but I do not want to go to court on allegations that do not exist.”
”I am certain that I, Jackie Selebi, have never been involved in that kind of wrongdoing.”
Some of the alleged charges relate to Selebi’s friendship with businessman Glenn Agliotti, who is accused of participating in mining magnate Brett Kebble’s murder, the Sunday Times said. Agliotti has denied any wrongdoing.
Selebi denies any financial links or any knowledge of Agliotti’s alleged underworld connections.
The former anti-apartheid hero said he felt as if the media had tried and sentenced him. ”I think that what is left for me is to wear my [prison] uniform,” he said.
Mbeki and his Cabinet have backed the police chief in the past despite calls for his sacking and resignation after questions arose about his association with Agliotti.
Selebi has also been criticised for failing to reduce one of the world’s highest crime rates. There were 19 000 murders in the year to March 31 2007, and an average of 144 women reported raped every day in South Africa.
Reports of the arrest warrant came during a week of drama that began with the September 24 suspension of Pikoli, South Africa’s top prosecutor.
It has been widely reported in the local media that the move was connected to Pikoli’s investigation of Selebi.
The confusion comes less than three months before the African National Congress holds a key leadership conference. — Sapa, Reuters, I-Net Bridge