Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla had studied the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision on whether police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi ”had a case to answer”, her spokesperson said on Friday.
Zolile Nqayi said the minister had studied the report last year.
”She studied the report last year already. The report is really a briefing, from there whatever happens is up to the NPA,” he said.
The minister was still on leave on Friday.
The NPA, however, reiterated that the status had not changed.
When asked whether it had received communication from the minister’s office, spokesperson Tlali Tlali said there were ”no changes”.
”Please exercise patience; it’s not going to be long before you guys know the decision,” he said.
The NPA on December 16 said it had made a decision on whether or not Selebi ”had a case to answer”. However, the decision would not be made public until it was studied by Mabandla.
The decision was made after the NPA received a report from a panel tasked with reviewing the criminal charges against the police national commissioner and current head of Interpol — the world’s largest international police organisation.
NPA acting head Mokotedi Mpshe prepared and submitted a report to the minister on his decision on whether or not Selebi would be charged after studying the findings made by the review panel.
Selebi has come under fire over his involvement with convicted drug-trafficker Glenn Agliotti, who is also accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.
An arrest warrant against Selebi was cancelled in September. It was obtained by Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel from the Randburg chief magistrate on September 10 for Selebi’s arrest for alleged corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice.
On September 14, a search warrant was obtained from the deputy judge president of the Witwatersrand Local Division of the high court in Johannesburg.
Mpshe had the arrest warrant cancelled shortly after taking the reigns from suspended NPA boss Vusi Pikoli.
Mpshe approached the deputy judge president, who indicated he was not prepared to retract the search warrant.
In October, Tlali said: ”Pending the outcome of the review process, we won’t be taking action on this warrant.”
Pikoli was suspended in September due to an ”irretrievable breakdown” in the relationship between himself and the justice minister. — Sapa