DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader Helen Zille is taking President Jacob Zuma to court, again. This time for his decision to appoint Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions.
DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader Helen Zille is taking President Jacob Zuma to court, again. This time for his decision to appoint Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions.
Zille is expected to file legal papers opposing the appointment at the Pretoria high court today.
In an outstanding matter Zille has asked the court to set aside the NPA's decision to drop corruption charges against Zuma.
DA spokesperson James Selfe said the respondents included Zuma, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and Simelane.
The legal challenge comes in the wake of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's call to Zuma to review Simelane's appointment, describing it as an "aberration".
Tutu said: "The appointment of Simelane is a setback for the integrity of South Africa's post-apartheid legal system.
"Simelane's integrity has been questioned from within his own political party and by his profession."
He said Simelane's appointment even after he was criticised by the Ginwala commission would compromise public confidence in the NPA.
"The appointment of one whose ready willingness to act on political instructions has been questioned by a statutory commission does nothing for people's confidence in the law," Tutu said.
The Ginwala commission's finding that Simelane might have interfered with former NPA boss Vusi Pikoli's decision to charge Jackie Selebi has compelled the Pretoria Bar Council to investigate whether Simelane should remain an advocate.
Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos was the first to oppose Simelane's appointment, saying he was not only unfit to hold the office but should be struck off the roll of advocates.
Opposition parties like the African Christian Democratic Party and Freedom Front Plus have also opposed Simelane's appointment.
Though the General Council of the Bar is investigating 17 complaints against him, Simelane said he had not received any formal complaint.
ZILLE SUES ZUMA
DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader Helen Zille is taking President Jacob Zuma to court, again. This time for his decision to appoint Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions.
DEMOCRATIC Alliance leader Helen Zille is taking President Jacob Zuma to court, again. This time for his decision to appoint Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions.
Zille is expected to file legal papers opposing the appointment at the Pretoria high court today.
In an outstanding matter Zille has asked the court to set aside the NPA's decision to drop corruption charges against Zuma.
DA spokesperson James Selfe said the respondents included Zuma, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and Simelane.
The legal challenge comes in the wake of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's call to Zuma to review Simelane's appointment, describing it as an "aberration".
Tutu said: "The appointment of Simelane is a setback for the integrity of South Africa's post-apartheid legal system.
"Simelane's integrity has been questioned from within his own political party and by his profession."
He said Simelane's appointment even after he was criticised by the Ginwala commission would compromise public confidence in the NPA.
"The appointment of one whose ready willingness to act on political instructions has been questioned by a statutory commission does nothing for people's confidence in the law," Tutu said.
The Ginwala commission's finding that Simelane might have interfered with former NPA boss Vusi Pikoli's decision to charge Jackie Selebi has compelled the Pretoria Bar Council to investigate whether Simelane should remain an advocate.
Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos was the first to oppose Simelane's appointment, saying he was not only unfit to hold the office but should be struck off the roll of advocates.
Opposition parties like the African Christian Democratic Party and Freedom Front Plus have also opposed Simelane's appointment.
Though the General Council of the Bar is investigating 17 complaints against him, Simelane said he had not received any formal complaint.
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