nomgcobo jiba mokgoro inquiry parliament

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 18: Deputy National Prosecuting Authority head, Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba during a media briefing on August 18, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jiba finally spoke out on the fraud and perjury charges against that were brought against by the NPA. The charges were withdrawn yesterday. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Cornel van Heerden).

Mokgoro inquiry: “Attack on Nomgcobo Jiba is because she’s a black woman” – says Norman Arendse

Nomgcobo Jiba turned to a new strategy in her defense at the Mokgoro inquiry.

nomgcobo jiba mokgoro inquiry parliament

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 18: Deputy National Prosecuting Authority head, Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba during a media briefing on August 18, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jiba finally spoke out on the fraud and perjury charges against that were brought against by the NPA. The charges were withdrawn yesterday. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Cornel van Heerden).

On Tuesday, we heard for the first time at the Mokgoro inquiry, Nomgcobo Jiba challenge the evidence that’s been presented against her.

Nomgcobo Jiba defense launches attack on Hofmeyr

The suspended deputy national director of public prosecutions’ (NDPP) defense attorney, Advocate Norman Arendse, was cross-examining Willie Hofmeyr, the person who currently is appointed in Jiba’s position.

ReadGerrie Nel vs Nomgcobo Jiba: Why the two former NPA are at war with each other

Hofmeyr was summoned to the inquiry to testify on the fitness of Jiba and the co-accused Lawrence Mrwebi, to hold office. In his testimony, he gave evidence that supported this notion.

“It’s incredibly difficult to have people work in an organisation that are either spying on the organisation to give information to accused people or trying to sabotage its work in various ways.

“Once you start manipulating the outcomes of cases to please politicians, that ends up being a disaster for the NPA – and is what we have seen over the past two years,”  Hofmeyr testified.

ReadNomgcobo Jiba may have escaped prosecution yet again

Mokgoro inquiry: Hofmeyr’s damning evidence againt Jiba

Hofmeyr, who was the head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit back when Jiba was closely tied with former president Jacob Zuma, testified that Jiba used her influence in the prosecutions corridors to protect corruption and the capture of the state.

“A very concerning development trend that emerged under Jiba, and was almost institutionalised by [Shaun] Abrahams, was to prosecute those who were perceived as obstacles to corruption and the capture of the state,” he said.

Under cross-examination, Arendse put it to Hofmeyr that he found it rather interesting that Jiba was the only NDPP the had concerns with and not her male predecessors.

ReadNPA suspensions: Why Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi are in trouble

Jiba defense: “It’s because she’s a black woman”

Particularly related to her appointment, Arendse accused Hofmeyr of having issues with the fact that Jiba was a black woman in a position of power.

“I’m contrasting this with the appointment of Ms Jiba who’d been a prosecutor for 21-22 years and you [and] Ms (Glynnis) Breytenbach, expressed surprise at her appointment. The first black African woman to be appointed at this position, you should’ve welcomed it, Mr Hofmeyr,” Arendse added.

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Hofmeyr was not phased, however. He brushed off the accusation and stated that Jiba’s integrity was already compromised at the time she took up the NDPP position.

The inquiry will continue on Wednesday with more evidence expected to be heard about Jiba and Mrwebi’s involvement in the downfall of the NPA.