Johannesburg - The National Prosecuting Authority’s commercial crimes unit head, Lawrence Mrwebi, has dismissed as “hogwash” an application by Freedom Under Law (FUL) to have him and deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba prevented from working.
FUL lodged an application to have Jiba and Mrwebi suspended following criticism against them by several judges.
The legal watchdog applied for an urgent order to have Jiba and Mrwebi interdicted from performing their duties until President Jacob Zuma begins a disciplinary process against them.
FUL also asked the court to make a finding on Zuma’s alleged failure to act against the pair. However, the NPA argued that the matter was not urgent.
In April, the General Council of the Bar (GCB) filed an application to have Jiba and Mrwebi struck off the roll because they were “not fit and proper” to hold office. FUL gave Jiba and Mrwebi two days to file their answering affidavits.
Mrwebi said: “I have the same response for FUL as I had for the GCB. I also don’t see how their application is urgent. They must just chill.”
However, DA spokeswoman on justice Glynnis Breytenbach supported FUL’s application, saying competent people needed to occupy Mrwebi and Jiba’s positions.
“Not people like them,” she said, adding that prosecutors and the public must have confidence in people who hold such positions. “Neither Jiba nor Mrwebi have that,” she said.
Breytenbach added that the pair had taken questionable decisions in the past.
On Thursday, the high court in Pretoria was due to rule on whether an urgent application brought by FUL was urgent.
Recently, the DA filed an affidavit at the Western Cape High Court asking Zuma to suspend Jiba pending a formal inquiry into her fitness to hold office.
The Star
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