Vusi Pikoli told MPs on Tuesday that he was fired for doing his job in prosecuting police commissioner Jackie Selebi and accused the executive of interfering in the case.
"This was the reason for my suspension," the former head of the National Prosecuting Authority told parliament's ad hoc committee reviewing President Kgalema Motlanthe's decision in December to fire him. "The murder of Brett Kebble is when Selebi's name came up. If it had not been for the matter of Kebble I would not have this problem I am having today," he said, referring to the businessman's murder that prompted the Selebi investigation for corruption.
Pikoli said he came under pressure from former justice minister Brigitte Mabandla to drop the case, but refused because it would have been unconstitutional to do so. "Because I refused to obey an unlawful instruction I was suspended."
Pikoli said former president Thabo Mbeki's complaint that he had jeopardised national security by not agreeing to wait a requested two weeks to arrest Selebi was a smokescreen. "National security should not be used as an excuse to avoid a criminal investigation where there is evidence of a criminal offence. "I would see it the other way round: Public interest would demand that I investigate this person."
Pikoli was cleared late last year by the Ginwala Enquiry, which found he was fit to hold office and recommended that he was reinstated.
source: News 24.com
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