Pikoli 'delighted' with ruling

2009-08-11 11:11

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma was interdicted in the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday from making a permanent appointment of a national director of public prosecutions.

Handing down judgment in under a minute, Judge Ben du Plessis said former national director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli, who was axed by former president Kgalema Motlanthe, had presented a prima facie case.

The interdict order was set in place until the full application could be heard in November.

Pikoli's legal team has argued the decision to fire him was unlawful and unconstitutional and therefore Zuma should be interdicted from appointing his successor.

'A step in the process'

Speaking outside court, Pikoli's lawyer Aslam Moosajee said he was "delighted" by the outcome.

"But we have to be mindful of the fact that this is a step in the process."

He said while he still had to study the written judgment, ultimately Du Plessis had granted the interim interdict because there was a prima facie case that needed to be argued.

"The damages would have [also] ultimately not have benefited Mr Pikoli," said Moosajee.

Pikoli was offered around R10m in damages after he was fired, however, he decided to forgo the money and challenge his dismissal in court.

- SAPA