Radebe, Simelane discuss AFU

2010-04-29 10:47

Pretoria - Justice Minister Jeff Radebe was meeting Menzi Simelane, head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), in Pretoria on Thursday to discuss Simelane's plans to close the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).

Tlali Tlali, spokesperson for the department of justice, said the meeting started just after 08:30.

Radebe was asked in a portfolio committee meeting last week whether he knew about Simelane's intended changes to the NPA, which included moves to close down the highly effective AFU, headed by Willie Hofmeyr.

"The minister said he did not know about the plans and arranged for an urgent meeting to get firsthand information on what the NPA intended to do," said Tlali.

Strategic plan

He did not know how long the meeting was going to last and what exactly was going to be discussed.

"You'll know the minister's stance on the AFU as soon as the meeting is over," he said.

Radebe earlier said he was not consulted on plans to restructure the NPA.

"I was not consulted on it. He (Simelane) is the head of the NPA in South Africa and he may have taken a decision that is in the best interest of the NPA but... I'm unaware of a formal discussion on those matters," he said.

Simelane unveiled his five-year strategic plan recently that included making the AFU and three other specialised units answer directly to provincial directors of prosecution, who in turn reported to him.

- SAPA