NEWS ANALYSIS: Time is running out for Ramaphosa to axe NPA officials
Politics will play a role in whether president removes Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi
Time is running out for President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially announce whether he has decided to axe senior National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) officials Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi, following an inquiry into their fitness to hold office. Come April 25, Jiba, the suspended deputy national director of public prosecutions (NDPP), and Mrwebi, special director of public prosecutions at the head of the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, will have been sitting at home for six months — the maximum amount of time for which they can be on suspension. Ramaphosa, as part of his reform agenda, has placed a strong focus on restoring the credibility of the NPA. The institution plays a critical role in the functioning of the criminal justice system but it has, for more than a decade, been considered vulnerable to political interference. At the heart of such perceptions have been prosecutorial decisions related to politically sensitive cases. These include the decisions to drop crim...
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