Joint Press Statement: HSF urges President to suspend Abrahams

Yesterday, attorneys acting for Freedom Under Law and the Helen Suzman Foundation sent a letter to President Jacob Zuma, urging him to suspend Shaun Abrahams, the current National Director of Public Prosecutions, and Dr JP Pretorius SC and Sibongile Mzinyathi, pending enquiries into their fitness to hold office.

This is a power granted to the President by sections 12(6)(a) and 14(3) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act.

The NPA, with Mr Abrahams’ support, brought obviously baseless criminal charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, Ivan Pillay and Oupa Magashula. Through this, Mr Abrahams has shown that he lacks the required conscientiousness and integrity to be entrusted with the responsibilities of the office of NDPP – in other words, he is not fit and proper. The same applies to Dr Pretorius and Mr Mzinyathi.

Mr Abrahams does not believe that he has done anything wrong. He is mistaken. We have thus urged the President to hold him, and his colleagues, accountable.

For a copy of the letter, click here.