Mbeki: No interference in NPA

2008-09-22 10:37

Johannesburg - President Thabo Mbeki denied any interference in the National Prosecuting Authority's decisions when he announced his resignation on Sunday night.

"I would like to state this categorically that we have never done this and never compromised the right of the National Prosecuting Authority to decide whom it should prosecute and not prosecute," said Mbeki who was recalled as president by the ANC on Saturday.

He said this included the "painful" matter of ANC president Jacob Zuma, and Mbeki's former deputy, who has been charged for corruption twice with the case first being struck off the roll and most recently being declared invalid.

Zuma's supporters claim the case is a plot to discredit him.

When Pietermaritzburg High Court judge Chris Nicholson set aside Zuma's charges, he suggested that there was an inappropriately close relationship between the NPA heads and the justice ministry and that Cabinet and Mbeki should take responsibility.

Mbeki also came under fire suspending the National Director of Public Prosecutions as he was pursuing a case against National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

Mbeki said they had acted consistently to retain the independence of the judiciary and were mindful of the need to protect its integrity.

Mbeki said he had handed his resignation in to the Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete on Sunday.

A Cabinet statement after his address said: "The President will remain in office until the National Assembly accepts his resignation and determines his date of departure."

- SAPA