South Africa’s acting chief prosecutor said on Tuesday he would investigate police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi amid reports a warrant had been issued for his arrest for links to organised crime.
Selebi is a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in the African National Congress (ANC) who could emerge as a kingmaker as the fractured party prepares to elect a new leader at a party conference in December.
The Sunday Times has reported there was an arrest warrant for Selebi on charges including racketeering, corruption, and being an accessory after the fact to murder.
The government has not disclosed whether a warrant exists, but Mokotedi Mpshe, acting director of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), told Talk Radio 702 he could confirm an investigation of Selebi was under way.
”I have got to review it, look at it myself, and inform myself,” he said.
President Thabo Mbeki suspended NPA head Vusi Pikoli on September 23 because of his poor relationship with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Brigitte Mabandla. The government has denied the suspension had anything to do with a probe into Selebi.
The Scorpions investigation into Selebi apparently started early last year as part of the unit’s wider investigation into the corporate crimes and murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble. The M&G reported that May on Selebi’s links to Glenn Agliotti, whom Selebi called ”my friend, finish and klaar”.
Agliotti, accused of a deep involvement in organised crime, was later arrested by the Scorpions for Kebble’s murder. He pleaded guilty to an ”assisted suicide”. Agliotti has assisted the Scorpions with further investigations, including those into Selebi.
Selebi’s case comes amid some of the worst factional fighting in the ANC’s history, raising fears the drama could paralyse a government that has presided over an economic boom.
Meanwhile, Mbeki has asked Mpshe to review all pending cases being investigated by the NPA, the Star reported on Tuesday.
‘Something’ wrong
Government has not revealed what pushed the relationship between Pikoli and Mabandla over the brink, but Frank Chikane, the director general in the Presidency, told reporters last week that ”something had gone wrong” with Pikoli’s reporting to the minister.
A variety of sources in or associated with the NPA and government said this week that the breakdown related to the Scorpions investigation of Selebi, and not other sensitive investigations, such as into Jacob Zuma and the arms deal. They all spoke on condition of anonymity.
Several NPA staffers referred to an intranet posting on Monday by Mpshe. In it, Mpshe apparently asked staff to remain calm, but also volunteered that Mabandla had called Pikoli on Sunday to demand his resignation. When Pikoli refused, Mbeki suspended him.
A senior NPA member said he understood Mabandla ”freaked out” after she found that Pikoli had kept information about the Selebi investigation from her.
Another said internal speculation was that Mabandla felt ”disregarded” in relation to the Selebi investigation, and that ”there must have been some agreement” which Pikoli had flouted.