Abrahams faces suspension over Gordhan charges
President Jacob Zuma has given notice of his intention to request NPA head Shaun Abrahams – and his fellow senior advocates – to provide reasons why they should not be suspended.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the presidency said that a formal request was made by Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation for Zuma to suspend Abrahams as well as fellow NPA advocates, Sibongile Mzinyathi and Torie Pretorius.
All three men were involved with the state’s case against finance minister Pravin Gordhan, where the minister was first charged with fraud, only to have the charges withdrawn at a later date.
The charges were withdrawn by Abrahams following a review of the case – specifically once new evidence was handed to the NPA showing that the fraud charges simply would not stick.
The initial charges against Gordhan and his co-accused, former SARS commissioner Oupa Magashula and his deputy, Ivan Pillay, related to the senior officials granting Pillay early retirement, paying out his pension, and then re-hiring him on a contract basis.
The new evidence, provided by Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation, showed that the officials were working under legal advice, and thus made decisions in good faith.
The president has now requested that Abrahams, Mzinyathi and Pretorius provide written representations as to why they should not be placed on suspension, and whether to hold an inquiry into their fitness to hold office.
Abrahams bites back
Earlier, a letter from Abrahams to Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza, showed the National Director of Public Prosecutor baring his teeth, after Ntlemeza accused him of buckling under public pressure and political interference in withdrawing the fraud charges.
In his letter, Abrahams said he took umbrage to the allegation, and warned the Hawks head that he was treading on thin ice.
He chided the Hawks leader for missing the vital evidence that was provided by Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation, and said that to continue with the case would have been counter the rule of law.
Abrahams told Ntlemeza that the Hawks’ legal and constitutional mandate did not permit the head to advise the NPA on when to withdraw or proceed with charges.
“I insist you refrain from any further communications or conduct to this effect, failing which will have serious repercussions,” he said.
Read: Abrahams summoned to Parliament to explain dropping Gordhan charges
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