SIU gets yet another acting boss
2011-12-21 14:45
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Zuma
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Carien du Plessis, City Press
Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma has replaced the acting head of the special investigating unit (SIU), Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, after less than a week in the job.
Zuma said in a statement she would be replaced by the deputy national director of public prosecutions, Advocate Nomvula Mokhatla, as acting head.
No reasons are given for the sudden change.
Jiba was appointed last week after Advocate Willem Heath, who had been in the job less than two weeks, resigned following remarks he made to City Press about former president Thabo Mbeki’s alleged involvement in prosecuting Zuma.
Zuma’s spokesperson, Mac Maharaj, said there were no “profound” reasons for Zuma’s decision to replace Jiba.
“The appointment was temporary and until further notice. There is nothing in the law that stops the president from making temporary appointments,” he said.
There is also nothing in the law that compelled him to do so, Maharaj said.
Sarcastic
A sarcastic Maharaj said that Jiba might have been replaced because she could have decided to go on holiday.
Jiba’s appointment raised eyebrows because of her history.
She was suspended from the NPA in 2007 for allegedly assisting the police in its campaign to save former police chief Jackie Selebi from prosecution, but fought her suspension.
Her temporary appointment was announced last week by Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, but Mokhatla’s appointment on Wednesday was announced by Zuma himself.
Mokhatla has served in the litigation unit of the justice department.
She practised as an advocate at the Pretoria and Johannesburg bars before that.
- SAPA
