NPA mum on Mpshe affair claim

Former acting NPA boss Mokotedi Mpshe declined to comment on reports that he had been informed that the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma carried "utmost gravity". File picture: Themba Hadebe

Former acting NPA boss Mokotedi Mpshe declined to comment on reports that he had been informed that the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma carried "utmost gravity". File picture: Themba Hadebe

Published Aug 1, 2014

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Johannesburg - The NPA on Friday declined to comment on a report regarding its former head Mokotedi Mpshe's alleged affair with a colleague which rendered him vulnerable to blackmail.

“Mpshe doesn't work here so I can't comment on anything dealing with him,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube said.

“If you want a comment you should go to him, I can't comment on his behalf.”

Mpshe, the national director of public prosecutions between 2007 and 2009, took the decision to terminate the corruption case against President Jacob Zuma in April 2009, paving the way for him to become president.

The Mail&Guardian on Friday reported that an investigation by crime intelligence, which targeted the NPA and produced the so-called “spy tapes”, formed the basis for the NPA's withdrawal of the charges against Zuma.

The intelligence report allegedly named Mpshe as having an affair with Gift Ngobeni, then NPA manager in Kimberley.

Both Mpshe and Ngobeni denied the allegations to the newspaper.

The tapes contained communications intercepts and apparently disclosed evidence of political interference in Zuma's case.

According to the newspaper, Ngobeni was arrested in 2008 for fraud but in October 2009 the case was withdrawn. Mpshe has denied being involved in the withdrawal of charges against her.

The local Volksblad newspaper at the time reported that Mpshe “withdrew the charges after studying a report from the prosecutor”.

Mncube on Friday also declined to comment on Ngobeni.

“All I can say is that I will find out from her if she is in a relationship, but that's her private business.” - Sapa

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