User:Trident13/VPikoli

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Advocate Vusumzi Patrick "Vusi" Pikoli (born 29/03/1958 in Port Elizabeth) is a South African lawyer, and presently the suspended Director of Public Prosecutions and head of the National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Educated at St John's College in Mthatha, 1975

[edit] NAP

Following a series of allegations of corruption against the first national Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, Ngcuka asked President Thabo Mbeki in July 2003 if he could be relieved of his position early. Pikoli was appointed in ???

In South Africa public prosecutions are conducted by an independent National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). The current NDPP, Vusi Pikoli, is head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). His predecessor, Bulelani Ngcuka resigned his position in the wake of an unsuccessful smear campaign against him involving supporters of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik.

The NDPP is supported by a Chief Executive Officer, Marion Sparg, Deputies, regional Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPP's), and several Special Directors. The National Director is also head of the controversial Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) - commonly known as the Scorpions - which deals with priority and organized crime. In 2005, the unit instituted proceedings against the country's Deputy President, Jacob Zuma, leading to his dismissal.

[edit] Suspension

On September 24, 2007 President Thabo Mbeki suspended Pikoli in terms of Section 12 (6) (a) of the National Prosecution Act 32 of 1998, saying: "This decision was taken on the basis of an irretrievable break down in the working relationship between the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and the NDPP."[1]

On 27 September 2007 the South African Broadcasting Corporation claimed that a warrant was issued on the 10 September by the NPA for the arrest of the head of the South African Police and Interpol, Jackie Selebi. According to SABC the warrant was secured by Pikoli, before Pikoli was suspended by the country's President Mbeki.[2] [3] President Mbeki suspended NPA Head Vusi Pikoli, allegedly because of "an irretrievable breakdown” in the relationship between Pikoli and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla. However, journalists at the Mail and Guardian claim to have solid information supporting the widespread suspicion that President Mbeki suspended Pikoli as part of a bid to shield Police Commissioner Selebi.[4]

The leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance party Helen Zille, said that the suspension of Pikoli was a “serious development” that needed further explanation: “The country needs to know why Pikoli has been suspended.”[5]Human Sciences Research Council political commentator Adam Habib said:[6]

“ If the president suspended Mr Pikoli on the grounds that he had issued a warrant for the commissioner's arrest, then it suggests that an invasion is being made into an independent institution's operations. Intervening in the operations of the National Prosecuting Authority constitutes a violation of our Constitution. ”

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mbeki suspends NDPP's Vusi Pikoli. iol (24 September 2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  2. ^ "'Deafening' silence on Selebi", News24, 2007-09-28. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. 
  3. ^ "SA's top policeman 'not arrested'", BBC News, 2007-09-27. Retrieved on 2007-09-27. 
  4. ^ The desperate bid to shield Selebi. Mail & Guardian (5 October 2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  5. ^ "Heads roll in bitter ANC turf war", The Times, 27 September 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-11. 
  6. ^ "Rumours swirl over Pikoli's suspension", Mail & Guardian, 30 September 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-11. 

[edit] External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pikoli, Vusi}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Port Elizabeth]] [[Category:Anti-apartheid activists]] [[Category:South African lawyers]] [[Category:South African politicians]]