Minister rejects DA request on Zuma prosecution

The DA’s attempt to get Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael Masutha to intervene in its attempt to persuade the NPA to decide whether to prosecute President Jacob Zuma for his alleged complicity in the Nkandla homestead security upgrade have fallen flat, notes Legalbrief. The Minister dismissed DA leader Mmusi Maimane’s request, saying he could not interfere with the independence of the NPA. Maimane described Masutha’s response as inadequate, and accused the Minister of shielding Zuma, notes a report on the IoL site. ‘I have requested an urgent meeting with the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shaun Abrahams, in order to press the matter with him personally. As the complainant in this case, I cannot accept that a decision still hasn’t been taken in over three years,’ he said. Maimane again threatened to take the matter to court if Abrahams did not commit to meeting him. He made similar threats when he gave the NPA an ultimatum last Monday to make a decision on the prosecution. The NPA notified the DA two weeks ago that further investigation was required on the matter despite the fact that it received the case docket from the police in August 2015.