/ 19 June 2008

Pikoli in talks with Sexwale for top job

Suspended National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli is in negotiations with Tokyo Sexwale’s Mvelaphanda Holdings to be the company’s chief legal counsel, Business Day reported on Thursday.

Mvelaphanda Holdings spokesperson Chris Vick confirmed on Wednesday that an offer had been made to Pikoli.

He said the diversified industrial group needed to ”beef up” its in-house legal counsel, which had been previously outsourced.

Pikoli told Business Day that the offer from Mvelaphanda was ”one of the options” that he was considering.

But, he said that his priority was to clear his name.

Pikoli was suspended as National Director of Public Prosecutions by President Thabo Mbeki last September.

Mbeki then set up an inquiry chaired by former National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala, which is examining Pikoli’s fitness to hold office.

He was suspended after the NPA secured a warrant of arrest for the police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi. — Sapa