DA welcomes decision to place Jiba, Mrwebi on special leave
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the decision to place deputy director of public prosecutions Nomgcobo Jiba and head of the specialised commercial crimes unit Lawrence Mrwebi on special leave.
The National Prosecuting Authority on Friday announced its decision to place the pair on special leave pending the outcome of their appeal.
READ MORE HERE: Jiba, Mrwebi put on special leave
It comes after a damning ruling against them by the North Gauteng High Court on Thursday.
The court ruled in favour of the General Council of the Bar's application to have the pair struck from the roll of advocates.
DA Shadow Minister of Justice Glynnis Breytenbach labelled the decision to place the two on special leave as a "victory for the NPA and our nation's prosecutorial integrity".
"This is also a victory for the General Council of the Bar (GCB) in their bid to ascertain legal certainty that representatives of the NPA ought to be 'fit and proper'," she said.
Breytenbach said she hoped this signals the first step of Jiba and Mrwebi's departure from the prosecuting authority.
"This suspension will ensure that they do not further facilitate the decline of the NPA."
The court ruling against the pair relate to their handling of the case against former police crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli and subsequent failure to prosecute him as well as Jiba's authorisation of racketeering charges against former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen.
The National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shaun Abrahams, took the decision to place the two on special leave after consulting with them as well the justice minister.
He says he took into consideration the integrity of the NPA, the public confidence in the organisation and the administration of justice as a whole, balanced against the integrity and reputation of the advocates.
"The NDPP implores all parties to expedite this matter in the interests of the NPA as a critical institution in the criminal justice cluster and in the interests of the two officials concerned, but most importantly in the interests of the proper administration of justice," the NPA said in a statement.
Judge Francis Legodi did not mince his words when handing down the judgement.
He said Jiba had flouted "every rule in the fight against crime", damaged the image of the legal profession and brought the NPA into disrepute.
The judge found the pair not "fit and proper" to remain advocates.
Both Jiba and Mrwebi will approach the Supreme Court of Appeal to challenge the court ruling.