With a malleable, corrupt or dysfunctional prosecuting authority, many criminals — especially those holding positions of influence — will rarely, if ever, answer for their criminal deeds." It is tragically poetic that the guardians of SA’s constitution on Monday had to spell out what happens when your prosecuting authority is in shambles. For years, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been put under heavy political influence, with presidents, including Thabo Mbeki, using the office to further their own agenda. The apex court on Monday found that Shaun Abrahams’s appointment as national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) was constitutionally invalid and ordered that President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint a new boss within 90 days.

In its judgment, the court used words such as "instability" when describing the NPA and phrases such as "abuse of power" directed specifically at former president Jacob Zuma. In the judgment, Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga said ...

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