The NPA should immediately review all its former and current cases in which there was a potential for meddling, similar to that which occurred in the case of ANC president Jacob Zuma, the ruling party’s treasurer-general Mathews Phosa said on Wednesday.
”I call on the NPA to immediately institute an objective review, not a witch hunt … in cases within which similar actions might have negatively impacted on the rights of innocent South Africans,” Phosa told a breakfast hosted by the Progressive Business Forum at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.
”There exists a strong perception that Mr Zuma is not the only victim of this vicious, vicious misuse of power and authority, and this perception should be clarified forthwith,” Phosa said.
He appealed to South Africans to ”move on” however he added that in order to move forward as a nation the country could not ”sweep the misuse of power under the carpet”.
He said submissions should be invited for such a review to take place.
Phosa also called on anyone who had any information on the alleged political conspiracy against Zuma to come forward in order to clear the air.
”Anyone should now own up if they contributed by either acts of commission or omission to this deplorable state of affairs.
”I find it hard to believe that only two people played a role in politicising this matter,” he said.
Phosa slammed opposition parties for completely ignoring the actions of former NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka, and former Scorpion’s boss Leonard McCarthy.
”It’s as if those things which happened are correct,” he said.
Phosa said whatever the legal arguments were the matter was ”over” and that the charges were withdrawn by the NPA and not the ANC.
He added that the allegations against McCarthy, shed light on the actions of the former special crime fighting unit, and provided a ”much more realistic environment” within which the disbanding of the unit should be viewed.
Phosa said the ANC was not going to counterattack Cope leaders regarding their possible involvement in the prosecution of Zuma, rather it supported the thorough investigation proposed by the NPA in the form of a commission of enquiry.
He said the ruling party did not want to prejudice that process and make ”premature accusations irrespective of whether prima facie evidence existed or not”.
Phosa was addressing the business forum on the ANC’s election manifesto, and its plan to deal with the consequences of the global financial crisis. – Sapa