Menzi Simelane
Picture: Financial Mail

FORMER national director of public prosecutions Menzi Simelane is still a member of the Johannesburg Bar and has not been stripped of his membership ­ not yet, at least.

Modise Khoza SC, chairman of the Johannesburg Bar Council, was on Wednesday quick to correct a newspaper report earlier in the day that the Bar had met on Tuesday night to discuss the finalisation of charges against Mr Simelane.

He confirmed that there had been a meeting of the council on Tuesday night, but said Mr Simelane had not been on the agenda and was not discussed ­ nor was he stripped of his membership.

Mr Simelane had also not resigned, "to the best of my knowledge", said Mr Khoza.

However, the disciplinary process to determine whether the former prosecutions chief is fit and proper to be an advocate is continuing.

Mr Khoza said no formal charges had yet been brought against Mr Simelane, but once they were, a panel would be appointed to hear the matter.

Mr Simelane’s appointment as national director was set aside as invalid by the Constitutional Court in October. The judgment said the appointment was irrational because President Jacob Zuma had failed to consider on-the-face-of-it indications of dishonesty in Mr Simelane’s conduct at former speaker of Parliament Frene Ginwala’s inquiry into the fitness for office of Mr Simelane’s predecessor, Vusi Pikoli.

At the time, Mr Simelane was director-general of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and gave evidence at the inquiry. But Ms Ginwala said his conduct at the inquiry "left much to be desired".

The Constitutional Court found that Mr Simelane’s evidence was contradictory and, on the face of it, indicative of dishonesty. As Mr Zuma had ignored "flashing red lights", it made the appointment irrational.

With acknowledgement to Franny Rabkin and Business Day.

Another NPA polecat home to roost.

But spare a thought.

He didn't lie under oath for himself.

He did it under instruction to protect his principal's ass.

But at the same time he was the cause of my German Leg investigation being abandoned by the NPA.

So he'll get struck from the bar for perjury.

Being of no such professional elevation, his principal will have to be struck with a bar.

Or hounded back to a R5 billion country estate.

Who is ready, willing and able to effect this hounding?

Stand up.