NPA deputy boss Jiba goes awol

Cops unable to serve summonses for fraud and perjury

CONTROVERSIAL deputy national prosecuting head Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba has pulled a houdini and disappeared without trace.

Neither the police nor her National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) bosses have been able to find her despite repeated visits to her home.

Authorities have also reportedly visited the homes of several of her relatives.

Jiba allegedly went absent without leave after she was apparently tipped off that police were searching for her so that they could serve summonses on her in relation to fraud and perjury charges which she is to face in the Pretoria Regional Court next month.

Repeated attempts to reach Jiba by cellphone yesterday failed.

The charges stem from Jiba allegedly falsifying information and documents and lying in an affidavit which was used to charge KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Major-General Johan Booysen with racketeering.

The racketeering charges stemmed from allegations of Booysen heading up the alleged Cato Manor hit squad.

Jiba’s disappearance comes as South Africa’s security cluster continues to be embroiled in controversy.

Yesterday, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) head Robert McBride was suspended by Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko. McBride’s suspension comes after his failed bid last week to stop Nhleko from suspending him for allegedly altering a report into the rendition of Zimbabwean political dissidents from South Africa to their home country where several were allegedly killed by police.