Eric Naki

The ANC in Parliament has commended auditor-general Terence Nombembe for uncovering widespread tender and financial irregularities in the national prosecuting authority.

But the party was wary of delving into the matter lest if be seen to be pushing a political agenda against the NPA in the light of the ongoing legal wrangle between the prosecuting body and ANC president Jacob Zuma.

The NPA has charged Zuma with corruption and other charges arising from the controversial arms deal.

The case has became a bone of contention between the NPA and the ANC president, who has accused the NPA of vindictive prosecution.

The ANC has claimed that Thabo Mbeki's government had politically interfered in his prosecution to block his political ambitions as future president of the country.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday that Nombembe had, during a routine audit of NPA finances, uncovered widespread tender rigging and financial irregularities involving more than R500million in the authority. Several NPA officials have been suspended and others are facing criminal charges arising from tender rigging and taking bribes from service providers.

Some officials had reportedly resigned in the wake of the investigation. The report came a few days after Parliament voted to disband the Scorpions, the NPA's investigative arm.