It looks like the NPA is going to have to dig deep into its historical memory and do “a Bulelani Ngcuka” in explaining why it cannot go after both Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki.

Remember how Ngcuka said there was prima facie evidence of corruption against Zuma but that he would not prosecute because the case was unwinnable?

Well, with a little bit of improvisation, the director of public prosecutions, Adv Mokotedi Mpshe, might approach the press conference to say that in addition to the “prima facie” against Zuma, another “prima facie” has now emerged against Mbeki, and there may be other “prima facies” on the way. Too many prima facies, he may protest in exasperation.

I can sympathise with the guy. We don’t want the former president and the sitting president meeting and exchanging notes on the steps of the courts.

Imagine Mbeki asking Zuma: “So how’s the prosecutor today, Msholozi, is he in a bad mood?”

Zuma chuckles: “He was well balanced, my brother. Very balanced, indeed.”

There have been endless allegations of speculation about Mbeki’s involvement in corruption relating to the arms deal.

If those allegations were true then that would also explain why winning at Polokwane would have been so important to him. The argument has been that if he were to win then he could turn the spotlight away from his involvement and simply finish Zuma off.

But that would have been the height of self-delusion ­ the idea that you can drive political rivals to the precipice in the hope that they will fall off. As it turns out Zuma seems to be quite a survivor.

But, hey, whatever differences I may have with Mbeki, I do not want to see him go to jail, let alone being hauled into a courtroom.

It would not be in the public interest to have a sitting and former president in court. However, it would be in the public interest to have a commission of inquiry with those who benefited being asked to pay back any improper benefits or facing some sort of censure, whether that’s Mbeki or Zuma.

With acknowledgements to Xolela Mangcu and Business Day.