Gerrie Nel cites ‘selective NPA prosecutions’
The National Prosecuting Authority loses a highly regarded legal mind amid concerns over the body’s credibility
Prosecutor Gerrie Nel on Tuesday abruptly left the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), citing a prevalence of selective prosecution by the authority. Addressing journalists in Pretoria soon after handing in his 24-hour notice, Nel opted to call it a "perception" of selective prosecution. He said if this perception was real he thought it was "absolutely brilliant to have an organisation that can make sure that everyone is equal before the law and that there is no selective prosecution". Nel, who successfully prosecuted the high-profile cases of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi and Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, announced on Tuesday that he was leaving the NPA to join Afrikaans lobby-group AfriForum’s new prosecuting unit.Abrahams himself could also be facing suspension over the handling of the embarrassing Gordhan matter, which saw the markets lose millions of rand and scared away investors. The NPA on Tuesday denied it was selective about who it prosecuted. "Those p...
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