PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 28: Advocate Gerrie Nel and Advocate Barry Roux at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on March 28, 2013, in Pretoria, South Africa. Oscar Pistorius, who stands accused of shooting Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, has appealed his bail conditions. His appeal was successful. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Deaan Vivier)
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 28: Advocate Gerrie Nel and Advocate Barry Roux at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on March 28, 2013, in Pretoria, South Africa. Oscar Pistorius, who stands accused of shooting Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013, has appealed his bail conditions. His appeal was successful. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Deaan Vivier)
It’s been a gripping day at the Mokgoro Inquiry, as Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi continue their fight to prove their fitness for office as NPA representatives. The pair have both been implicated in the Bosasa scandal this month, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The suspended pair had previously been barred from the roll for the way they handled the Richard Mdludi case in particular. However, the Supreme Court of Appeal overruled this judgement. But, at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s request, an inquiry with serious implications for their futures was implemented.
Why was Gerrie Nel arrested?
Jiba had previously served as NPA deputy national director, while Mrwebi was in office as the special director of public prosecutions. However, the former has seen her tumultuous relationship with Gerrie Nel come to the boil at the commission on Thursday.
The pair has a fractious history with each other, but what exactly caused this legal clash of the titans?
Back in 2008, Nel was arrested on charges of corruption and defeating the administration of justice at his Pretoria home. A team of armed police raided the property and marched him into a police station. This case was dropped just a week later, but suspicions remained high.
At the time, Nel was leading the Scorpions’ investigation into the corrupt Jackie Selebi and Jiba’s husband, Booker Hantsi. It’s alleged that Jiba gave the green-light for the bust – an accusation that surfaced at the Mokgoro Commission earlier from current NPA Deputy Director, Willie Hofmeyr.
Hofmeyer, “It’s always been clear to me that Adv. Jiba had a score to settle with Adv. Gerrie Nel.”
— Kgauza wa Lecowza (@KgaugeloSM) January 31, 2019
This is due to the fact that Nel sent Jiba’s hubby, Booker Hantsi, to jail for stealing a client’s money. His criminal record was later expunged by Jacob Zuma. #MokgoroInquiry
Nel’s push for a private prosecution of Nomgcobo Jiba
There’s been a strong animosity between the pair for the best part of a decade, and that rivalry was fuelled further back in 2017. In his capacity as AfriForum’s private prosecutor, Nel announced his unit would be going after Nomgcobo Jiba for fraud, perjury and defeating the ends of justice on behalf of former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss, General Johan Booysen.
He’s accused Jiba of unlawfully targeting Booysen, who was leading an investigation into the Jacob Zuma corruption saga. Their personal case is yet to make it to court, but it seems like more dirt will be dished before the end of the week.
