It was possibly the worst mistake of his professional life when national director of public prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka attempted to solicit support from black editors in response to a smear campaign against him.

Unfortunately, he trusted the editors and pulled no punches as he spoke his mind about the business affairs of people his office was investigating.

Ngcuka's request that the meeting remain off the record was not honoured. Within hours former transport minister Mac Maharaj was being asked questions based on information Ngcuka had relayed.

One of them, City Press editor Vusi Mona, could not resist the temptation to expose Ngcuka's confidential gossip. He published "minutes" of the meeting, giving Deputy President Jacob Zuma a weapon to launch a counterattack on Ngcuka.

Zuma, who was being investigated by the Scorpions for allegedly soliciting a R500000 bribe from a French company that won a portion of the arms deal contract, asked whether Ngcuka's actions did not border on abuse of office .

Ngcuka had told the editors that Zuma was not capable of handling his business affairs and relied too much on Indian businessmen to do so.

This was soon followed by a City Press article alleging that Ngcuka was an apartheid spy. The source of the allegations was allegedly Maharaj another politician being investigated by the Scorpions.

Mona did not escape the mudslinging. He was recently suspended, pending an investigation, after being accused of owning a share in a public relations company that does work for the Mpumalanga government.

City Press ran a full-page advertisement from the provincial government, accusing journalists of lying and stealing documents related to corruption allegations in the Mpumalanga health ministry.

Mona started Rainbow Communications in 1995, before beginning his career in journalism. The company specialised in educational and business conferences and in providing education and training.

He has told his employer, Media24, that he severed ties with his partner last year because it was in conflict with his position as an editor.

Mona has now called on Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson and Justice Minister Penuell Maduna to decide whether Ngcuka abused his office. He has also complained to the Public Prosecutor and the Human Rights Commission.

Mona justified his actions as an attempt to defend the rights of Ngcuka's suspects using Zuma's exact words.

He claimed that should his actions ultimately lead to Ngcuka's downfall that he was not doing it for personal glory.

With acknowledgements to Hopewell Radebe and the Business Day.