The Democratic Alliance on Tuesday asked that acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, be called to Parliament to explain the delay in making public the decision on whether or not to charge National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

Tertius Delport, the DA's spokesman on justice, has written a letter to Yunus Ismail Carrim, chairman of Parliament's portfolio committee on justice and constitutional development, asking that Mpshe be called to report on the current situation.

"This lengthy delay has allowed public speculation to proceed unchecked, with a great deal of possible harm done to our criminal justice system," Delport wrote.

"The potential damage to public confidence in and loss of credibility of the criminal justice system has been severe," he added.

The DA also planned to ask Parliament to consider establishing an ad hoc committee to explore "civil and state threats" to the justice system and to make recommendations to strengthen the security of the system.

Carrim was not immediately available for comment.

The NPA on December 16 said it had made a decision on whether or not Selebi "had a case to answer".

However, it said the decision would not be made public until it had been studied by Justice minister Brigitte Mabandla

She on Monday rejected as "untrue" reports that she had delayed the NPA's decision on whether or not to charge Selebi.

"The NPA is an independent institution and does not have to get any permission from the minister before charging whoever it wants to charge," Mabandla's spokesman Zolile Nqayi said.

Selebi has come under fire over his involvement with convicted drug trafficker Glenn Agliotti, who is also accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.

An arrest warrant against Selebi was cancelled in September last year.

It was obtained by Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel from the Randburg Chief Magistrate on September 10, for Selebi's arrest for alleged corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice.

On September 14, a search warrant was obtained from the deputy Judge President of the Witwatersrand Local Division of the High Court in Johannesburg.

Mpshe had the arrest warrant cancelled shortly after taking over the reins from suspended NPA boss, Vusi Pikoli.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.