Publication: Sunday Times Issued: Date: 2006-10-29 Reporter: Wisani wa ka Ngobeni Reporter: Dominic Mahlangu

Zuma Saga Forces NPA’s Nkosi to Call it Quits

 

Publication 

Sunday Times

Date

2006-10-29

Reporter

 Wisani wa ka Ngobeni, Dominic Mahlangu

Web Link

www.sundaytimes.co.za

 

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Makhosini Nkosi has resigned his position as a result of political pressure since the start of the Jacob Zuma saga.

Nkosi, who joined the NPA in October 2003, told his boss, National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli, that he would not be seeking the renewal of his contract when it expires in January next year, the Sunday Times learnt yesterday.

Nkosi yesterday confirmed that he would be leaving the NPA. He admitted that he had decided to throw in the towel largely because of the strain brought about by the NPA’s decision to charge the former deputy president.

He said his family had taken huge strain as a result of the Zuma case. His father lives in Pongola and his mother in Katlehong, in Ekurhuleni. Both communities are highly emotional about issues involving Zuma.

“The political fallout out of this has been very difficult … and that did influence my decision to a larger extent,” said Nkosi.

He said even though his job was very intense and demanding, he still had confidence in the work of the NPA. “There is nothing negative. I still enjoy a perfect relationship with Pikoli,” he said.

In July this year, shortly before Zuma appeared in court on charges of corruption, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in KwaZulu-Natal called upon Nkosi to resign his position. They accused him of having lied to the nation when he said the NPA was ready to proceed with its case of corruption against Zuma.

Cosatu threatened to picket outside the NPA offices unless Nkosi relinquished his position.

At the time, Nkosi dismissed Cosatu’s claims, maintaining he had never lied to the nation. He said the statement he released last November, stating that the NPA was ready to proceed with its corruption case against Zuma, was correct at the time.

With acknowledgements to Wisani wa ka Ngobeni, Dominic Mahlangu and Sunday Times.