Johannesburg - The DA welcomes President Jacob Zuma's decision to institute an inquiry against NPA head Mxolisi Nxasana, the party said on Saturday.
“The Democratic Alliances welcomes the long overdue investigation into the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Mr Mxolisi Nxasana,” parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.
“The inquiry into Mr Nxasana should have happened before he was appointed, not after, given the nature of the job.”
Maimane said the announcement by was an admission that due process was not followed when appointing the head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“The DA has on various occasions called for president Zuma and Parliament to launch investigations into the suitability of Mr Nxasana to lead the NPA, an institution which has for many years been plagued by political meddling and controversy,” he said.
On Saturday the Presidency released a statement saying the decision was made in terms of Section 12(6)(a)(iv) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act 32 of 1998.
This followed careful consideration of all the matters before Zuma.
“The details regarding the establishment of the enquiry will be communicated to the public in due course,” the presidency said.
On Friday, The New Age reported that Zuma had met Nxasana
recently to discuss the national director of public prosecutions' future.
It was at that meeting Zuma reportedly asked Nxasana to resign or face being fired, with Nxasana then reportedly pleading with Zuma to reconsider his position.
Nxasana told the newspaper that the meeting did not take place.
Later on Friday, both the presidency and the NPA said the story was false.
Maimane called on Zuma to make public the full record of decision on the appointment of Nxasana to the office of NDPP along with the application form for the office of NDPP completed by Nxasana and the letters of appointment.
He said the appointment of the NDPP should not be made by the president alone but should be done by way of the Justice and Correctional Services Committee making a recommendation to the President.
“The DA will continue to campaign for a transparent process, to ensure that the woman or man appointed to head the NPA, will discharge their duties without fear, favour or prejudice, and puts justice before politics,” he said.
Sapa