/ 6 June 2013

Breytenbach will return to the NPA on Monday

Why does Glynnis Breytenbach's reinstatement at the NPA threaten Jacob Zuma's allies? We explain it all in under five minutes.
Why does Glynnis Breytenbach's reinstatement at the NPA threaten Jacob Zuma's allies? We explain it all in under five minutes.

Prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach will return to her job at the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) Specialised Commercial Crime Unit on Monday, following a letter the NPA sent to Breytenbach on Thursday afternoon.

Breytenbach's lawyer Gerhard Wagenaar told the Mail & Guardian that he had "received the letter just after 4pm". 

"We understand the letter to mean [for] her return to work on Monday. A meeting will take place on Monday between her [Breytenbach] and acting NPA head Nomgcobo Jiba," Wagenaar said.

The meeting will "assist Glynnis to be reintegrated back into her office because she has not been at work for over a year".

Wagenaar said his client was feeling "satisfied".

The letter from the NPA followed a meeting on Wednesday afternoon between Breytenbach and her bosses on whether she could return to work. 

The NPA lost its case against Breytenbach last week Monday, when the presiding chair in her disciplinary hearing, Advocate Selby Mbenenge, ruled that he could not find Breytenbach guilty on the 15 charges brought against her by the NPA.

'Discuss her return to work'
Mbenenge, the third chair appointed by the prosecuting authority, ruled that the NPA had not "proven the guilt of the employee" in any of the "plethora of charges".

However, Breytenbach received a blow following her acquittal when the NPA released a statement saying that it was going to seek a review of Mbenenge's findings through the Labour Court. The NPA said it would ask the Labour Court "to set aside the findings and replace them with a finding of guilty against Ms Breytenbach".

The NPA however, agreed to a meeting this week with Breytenbach and her attorney "to discuss her return to work, pending the review application".

Wagenaar confirmed that while she will go to work on Monday, the NPA will continue with their review application.

Wagenaar said: "They are going to proceed, but it has not been served on us yet."

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