Mpshe failed the independence test
Publish date: 03 May 2016
Issue Number: 3981
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: The Zuma prosecution
When Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba ruled on Friday that President Jacob Zuma should face the 783 corruption charges that the NPA dropped – he did so because former acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe, had ignored his oath of office to act independently, notes Legalbrief. ‘Having regard to the evidence before us, we find that Mpshe found himself under pressure and he decided to discontinue the prosecution of Zuma and consequently made an irrational decision,’ Ledwaba said, according to a News24 report. He added: ‘Considering the situation in which he found himself, Mpshe ignored the importance of the oath of office which demanded him to act independently and without fear and favour.’