Mxolisi Nxasana reveals political interference in the NPA

Former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) director Mxolisi Nxasana has reiterated his belief that Jacob Zuma was at the heart of a plot to have him removed from office.

Zuma given false information about Nxasana

At a previous appearance at the Zondo Commission in August, Nxasana made claims that Zuma was fed false information by Nomcgobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi that the former President was happy to use in a bid to remove him from the NPA.

“My belief is that Jiba and Mrwebi, in running their campaign to get me removed from the NPA, also peddled some misinformation to the President that I intended to reinstate charges against him,” Nxasana said at the time.

Mxolisi Nxasana

He was referring to the corruption charges first brought against Zuma back in 2009 by Bulelani Ngcuka.

However, Nxasana says the information was false and that he never had any intention of reinstating the charges. Nevertheless, the mere suggestion it was a possibility completely destroyed the working relationship he had with Zuma.

“All of a sudden he had an attitude toward me. He didn’t want to see me at all,” he said.

Mxolisi Nxasana

The end of Nxasana’s tenure at the NPA

Following the souring of relations between Nxasana and Zuma, the latter then sought to form a commission of inquiry into the former’s fitness to hold office.

“My view was that the president was just on a fishing expedition, trying to get something against me to justify the commission of inquiry into my fitness to hold office.”

Mxolisi Nxasana

Eventually, the former NPA boss stepped down from his position and was given a controversial R17 million golden handshake.

At the time, it was claimed that Nxasana had resigned but he is adamant that is not the case otherwise he would not have been entitled to the money he was paid.

“[Zuma], his advisers, the ministers of justice, both Radebe and Masutha, if they still have a conscience, they know very well that at no stage I made a request to vacate office,” he told the state capture inquiry.

Mxolisi Nxasana

Political interference in decision making

During his tenure in charge of the NPA, Nxasana had recommended the removal of both Jiba and Mrwebi but claimed both of them enjoyed protection from Zuma and would behave as if they were untouchable.

It was also claimed the worsening public perception of the NPA was down to Nxasana’s leadership of the authority, but he denied that also.

“Political and external interference in decision making at the NPA undermined its integrity and effectiveness, and served to erode public confidence in the organisation. And also the failure to act decisively against advocates Jiba and Mrwebi in particular, harmed the organisation.”

Mxolisi Nxasana

In closing, Nxasana revealed that he is not able to pay back the courth-ordered R10 million portion of his golden handshake because he did not have the money.