Cape Town - Top prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach won’t speak about the corruption charges against her, but says she is more than willing to meet prosecutions boss Mxolisi Nxasana to discuss her future.
Breytenbach, who has been named among the DA’s top candidates for the National Assembly, was reacting on Sunday to reports that the NPA was to charge her with corruption. She was speaking after the DA said the decision to pursue charges against her was nothing more than an “election smear tactic”.
Asked to comment, Breytenbach said she did not know whether her bosses intended to meet her to discuss the charges against her.
“I’m not aware of any meeting with Mr Nxasana. But if he wants to meet I will, he is still my boss. But I can’t comment on charges because I still work for the NPA.”
James Selfe, the DA’s federal executive chairman, said the timing of the allegations – barely a week after it emerged Breytenbach was on the party’s list of candidates – was not coincidental.
“We therefore view the allegations against advocate Breytenbach with scepticism, if not contempt.”
NPA spokeswoman Bulelwa Makeke said Nxasana would be leading a meeting on Tuesday to discuss certain matters around the report on Breytenbach.
She said he had not yet accepted Breytenbach’s resignation and the two would have to meet to discuss a final date.
“She still hasn’t engaged (Nxasana) on a final date.
“It is the employer’s prerogative to accept or not accept a resignation.”
Makeke would not comment on the DA’s assertion that the matter was nothing more than a political smear tactic.
“We are not dealing with political parties, so we’ve got no comment on the DA. They have no idea what is going on. It’s an internal matter.”
Political analyst Susan Booysen said that during an election period, it would be “impossible” to make a clear-cut call on whether such charges were politically motivated. “It could be politically driven. In times like this, it could be used politically and it would be great politics to bring those charges now.”
The Sunday Independent reported on Sunday that a draft report given to Nxasana just days before Breytenbach handed in her resignation alleged she had flouted several internal codes and acts.
According to the report, compiled by the NPA’s integrity management unit, Breytenbach:
* Solicited a $1 million loan from a complainant in a case she was prosecuting.
* Accepted a R6.3m donation from a complainant in a case she was prosecuting.
* Did not declare her business interests correctly.
* Failed to declare personal relationships in several cases she was working on.
* Tried to unduly influence cases related to friends.
The report recommends Breytenbach be charged with conflict of interest, misconduct and corruption.
Cape Times