I only answer to Zuma – Jiba

[caption id="attachment_75296" align="alignright" width="200"] NOMGCOBO JIBA -[/caption]

Defiant NPA deputy won’t sign summons to appear in court

THE national prosecuting authority’s deputy head, Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, has refused to sign a summons to appear in court, reportedly telling her boss that she answers only to President Jacob Zuma.

Jiba and prosecuting authority chief Advocate Mxolisi Nxasana had a heated meeting at the agency’s Silverton, Pretoria, office yesterday after she went awol this week.

Jiba, who an NPA insider said “oozed confidence”, refused to explain her disappearance or why she did not answer Nxasana’s telephone calls.

NPA spokesman Velekhaya Mgobhozi confirmed that during the meeting, Jiba refused to sign the summons after learning of its contents.

Jiba failed to return calls or respond to text messages.

The summons is for Jiba to answer questions in court next month over the alleged fabrication of documents she signed to obtain a racketeering certificate against KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Johan Booysen.

Booysen, who was accused of heading a Durban police death squad, was cleared of all criminal and departmental charges.

The conflict between Jiba and her boss comes as the Presidency for the past three weeks has failed to meet a deadline to submit documents to a commission of inquiry into Nxasana’s fitness for office.

In January, Zuma announced the commission’s establishment after Nxasana allegedly failed to make disclosures over his previous brushes with the law, including his acquittal for murder and a charge of assault.

The commission was meant to have concluded its work within six weeks, but has yet to start.

An NPA source said Nxasana learnt that Jiba had telephoned Zuma shortly after he [Nxasana] received the summons on her behalf when police failed to find her.

“We were told Zuma contacted police commissioner Riah Phiyega, who [demanded to know from] Nxasana why the NPA was meddling in their investigation.

“It is clear political strings are being pulled.”

Police spokesman LieutenantGeneral Solomon Makgale denied that Zuma had informed Phiyega.

“Phiyega was informed by national detective head Lieutenant-General Vinesh Moonoo that summons had been issued,” he said. “

He did so because the investigation is not complete. Statements are still needed with information needing verification.

“Moonoo was concerned that the summons might jeopardise the investigation and requested Phiyega to engage Nxasana.”

He said management had not been aware that the investigating officer, Colonel Botes Botha, was ordered by the prosecutor to serve the summons.

“The NPA was informed last month of a new unit head, but still the prosecutor went ahead and contacted Botha. They know the investigation is not complete.”

NPA spokesman Mgobhozi said: “The NPA doesn’t take instructions from the police. [It] decides when the matter is ready for court by applying its mind independently.”

Institute for Security Studies policing researcher Dr Johan Burger said the internal strife and interdepartmental fighting within the NPA, the Hawks and the SAPS was hindering their core function of fighting crime.

“The strife was a result of moves to prevent the president and those loyal to him, like suspended crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, from being prosecuted. Anyone who comes close to investigating those charges faces investigation and suspension.”

-Graeme Hosken and Shaun Smillie