The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) “consistent failure to carry out the rudimentary tasks of its function by filing its papers on time does not inspire any confidence that it is currently up to the task”‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday.
This was in reaction to the NPA missing yet another deadline for it to submit heads of argument in the “Spy Tapes” issue.
The DA has made an application to have the decision to drop the 783 charges of corruption‚ racketeering and fraud lodged against President Jacob Zuma declared irrational and set aside.
The chairperson of the party’s federal executive‚ James Selfe‚ said: “By failing to file its papers on time‚ the NPA is‚ in fact‚ in contempt of an order of the court agreed to by all parties at the North Gauteng High Court on March 16‚ 2015.”
According to Selfe‚ the NPA had agreed to file its heads of argument last‚ “but missed this deadline‚ for no discernible reason at all”.
He said the NPA then requested leave to file its papers by the close of business on Monday‚ but didn’t.
“Having missed a deadline set by the NPA themselves‚ they have now intimated that they might file its papers tomorrow without providing any clear assurances to that effect‚” said Selfe.
“The only logical conclusion is that the NPA is intent on delaying the hearing of this matter for as long as possible even though this process has already been frustrated for more than six years at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Selfe said that his party is “mindful that there would be unforeseeable and reasonable delays”‚ but added that the “NPA’s chronic tardiness in filing its papers serves no other purpose than to frustrate this process even further”.
Charges against Zuma were dropped when recorded phone calls between the head of the now-defunct Scorpions‚ Leonard McCarthy‚ and former NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka appeared to show to political interference in the prosecution ahead of the African National Congress’s Polokwane elective conference in 2007.
NPA ‘in contempt of court’ in Zuma charges review‚ says DA
This was in reaction to the NPA missing yet another deadline for it to submit heads of argument in the “Spy Tapes” issue.
The DA has made an application to have the decision to drop the 783 charges of corruption‚ racketeering and fraud lodged against President Jacob Zuma declared irrational and set aside.
The chairperson of the party’s federal executive‚ James Selfe‚ said: “By failing to file its papers on time‚ the NPA is‚ in fact‚ in contempt of an order of the court agreed to by all parties at the North Gauteng High Court on March 16‚ 2015.”
According to Selfe‚ the NPA had agreed to file its heads of argument last‚ “but missed this deadline‚ for no discernible reason at all”.
He said the NPA then requested leave to file its papers by the close of business on Monday‚ but didn’t.
“Having missed a deadline set by the NPA themselves‚ they have now intimated that they might file its papers tomorrow without providing any clear assurances to that effect‚” said Selfe.
“The only logical conclusion is that the NPA is intent on delaying the hearing of this matter for as long as possible even though this process has already been frustrated for more than six years at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Selfe said that his party is “mindful that there would be unforeseeable and reasonable delays”‚ but added that the “NPA’s chronic tardiness in filing its papers serves no other purpose than to frustrate this process even further”.
Charges against Zuma were dropped when recorded phone calls between the head of the now-defunct Scorpions‚ Leonard McCarthy‚ and former NPA boss Bulelani Ngcuka appeared to show to political interference in the prosecution ahead of the African National Congress’s Polokwane elective conference in 2007.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos