President Zuma's shocking letter to NPA head

The president has written to the head of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), asking Abrahams to provide him with reasons he shouldn't be suspended from his position following the botched fraud investigation launched against Pravin Gordhan.

In an excerpt from the letter, Zuma wrote: "As you are aware, the National Prosecuting Authority is an important constitutional institution in the administration of Justice and maintaining public confidence in the institution is a necessity. Read more: ‘Thank you, South Africa!’ Pravin pens heartfelt open letter "I hereby afford you an opportunity to make written representations as to why I should not place you on suspension pending the outcome of the enquiry into your fitness to hold office. Such representation must reach my office on or before 28 November 2016."

Opposition parties and members from civil society have called for Abrahams' resignation for what they saw as trumped-up charges against Gordhan.

Newspaper reports earlier this month speculated the NPA is determined to launch another investigation into Gordhan's time at the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

This time the NPA will apparently try and charge him in connection with a so-called rogue unit at SARS when he was the finance minister. The minister has always denied that this unit was unlawful.

Read more: NPA withdraws charges against Pravin ‘with immediate effect’

Charges against finance minister Gordhan were dropped on 31 October.