The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged President Thabo Mbeki to disband the Ginwala Commission of Inquiry into suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli in view of ”disturbing new evidence”.
This was that Mbeki indeed knew about suspicions surrounding the activities of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, despite his assertions to the contrary, DA parliamentary leader Sandra Botha said on Wednesday.
In a letter to Mbeki, she said he had asked representatives of the South African Council of Churches to trust him that the evidence at his disposal did not warrant action being taken against Selebi.
”You also challenged anyone to bring you evidence of wrongdoing and stated that if you received such evidence, you would act, and you were quoted as saying, ‘nobody did, nobody came to me’.”
The revelations contained in an affidavit signed by acting national director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe ”seem to prove otherwise”.
In the affidavit, it was stated that Pikoli met with Mbeki on no less than ten occasions to outline the case against Selebi.
”It also alleges that advocate Pikoli was in constant communication with both yourself as well as the Minister of Justice [and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla] on the Selebi investigation,” Botha wrote.
The fundamental reason given for Pikoli’s suspension was the breakdown in trust between him and Mabandla, due to the fact that the minister was not properly informed about the investigation against Pikoli.
”The undeniable impression to be gained from this situation is that you did act improperly to protect one of your key political allies and in so doing undermined the key constitutional principle of separation of powers, as well as misled the people of South Africa about the real reasons for advocate Pikoli’s suspension.
”In light of these developments, for the sake of your own credibility as well as the credibility of your office, I urge to you to disband the Ginwala commission and reinstate advocate Pikoli with immediate effect,” Botha wrote. — Sapa