Selebi: Stay out, Mabandla told

2007-12-17 17:06

Johannesburg - Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla should stay out of the Selebi case, the Inkatha Freedom Party said on Monday.

The IFP's call followed the National Prosecuting Authority's statement at the weekend that a decision had been taken with regard to the police boss, but it had to brief Mabandla before it made it known.

Both Mabandla and Selebi are attending the ANC's 52nd national conference in Polokwane.

"In line with the principle of separation of powers, the executive has no right to interfere in the decision-making process of the National Director of Public Prosecution," said spokesperson Koos van der Merwe said.

"This fuels the perception that the executive is interfering with the judiciary," said Van der Merwe.

"It will be like she is conniving if she were to be briefed before the public knew the decision," he said.

That the minister was being consulted before a decision was made known raised the perception that she may interfere in the National Director's decision on whether or not to prosecute Selebi.

In September, President Thabo Mbeki fired the head of the NPA Vusi Pikoli for, among other things, failing to brief the minister about obtaining warrant of arrest for Selebi.

- SAPA