Pretoria - Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Michael Masutha, says he has met with the leadership of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and called on them to await the decision of the President with regard to the matter relating to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Mxolisi Nxasana.
He said he had requested the top management not to pre-empt or act in a manner that could undermine the outcome of the President's decision.
Nxasana, who was appointed in October last year by President Jacob Zuma, has come under the spotlight after it emerged he did not have the required security clearance for the post. He was acquitted on murder charges when he was 18 years old.
Reports last week claimed that former Justice Minister Jeff Radebe instructed Nxasana, who is from the KwaZulu-Natal division of the High Court, to resign just a few days before President Zuma announced his new Cabinet because of this.
Minister Masutha said at a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday, that he had referred the matter to the Office of the President, which has not made a decision as yet.
He said according to the Constitution, President Zuma had the powers to initiate an inquiry into the matter or suspend him pending the outcome of the enquiry.
“As and when a plan of action is decided by the President, we will take the nation into our confidence,” he said, adding that the President had indeed been on sick leave over the past few days.
The President was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on Friday to undergo medical tests and was discharged on Sunday evening, according to his office.
“I called upon officials to continue to work in the spirit of mutual trust and support to deliver on their constitutional mandate,” he said.
He said a solution would not be found through a witch hunt.
Minister Masutha requested that the NPA management respect the President’s decision and support the outcomes thereof.
“Any dissatisfaction must be voiced and addressed through the official channels that are available to all officials equally.” – SAnews.gov.za
