NPA, police trade angry accusations

The convulsions in the criminal justice system continue to be exposed, with weekend newspapers reporting claims that NPA boss Mxolisi Nxasana was instrumental in protecting top prosecutor-turned-DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, as well as suspended Hawks head Anwa Dramat and provincial boss of the elite crime-fighting unit Shadrack Sibiya (see reports below), notes Legalbrief. These allegations emanate from both the police and NPA insiders and appear to have been fired in response to Nxasana suggesting his deputy, Nomgcobo Jiba, who has refused to take delivery of a summons to appear in court to face perjury and fraud charges, is being protected ‘at all costs' by the police. Calls have also been made for action against National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, whose intervention in the matter is seen as attempting to 'defeat the ends of justice'.