PRETORIA - South Africa's President Kgalema Motlanthe yesterday dismissed the head of the country's prosecuting authority, which is leading the corruption case against ANC leader Jacob Zuma.
Vusi Pikoli, head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), angered many in the ruling African National Congress and former president Thabo Mbeki by carrying out separate investigations of Mr Zuma and national police chief Jackie Selebi.
Mr Mbeki suspended Mr Pikoli in September 2007 after the prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for Mr Selebi, a Mbeki ally accused of involvement with organised crime. Mr Selebi faces corruption and fraud charges.
Mr Motlanthe, who took over after Mr Mbeki was ousted by the ANC in September, said he decided Mr Pikoli had to go after an inquiry found he had failed to consider national security in the Selebi case and other matters.
Mr Motlanthe's decision, which the ANC-dominated parliament is expected to ratify, flew in the face of the inquiry's recommendation that Mr Pikoli be restored to his position. While blaming Mr Pikoli for endangering national security, the inquiry criticised the government and officials in the department of justice, arguing they had not proved many of the allegations made against the NPA head.
Mr Motlanthe, an ally of Mr Zuma, denied there had been political influence on him to sack Mr Pikoli. "This really is my own decision. It has no other influence," the president said.
It is unclear how Mr Pikoli's removal will affect the prosecution of Mr Zuma, who defeated Mr Mbeki for the ANC leadership in 2007 and is front-runner to win a general election set for March 2009. Mr Zuma was accused of bribery, fraud and other wrongdoing over an arms deal and his relationship with a former adviser who was later convicted of fraud. The ANC leader says he is the victim of a political conspiracy.
A judge dismissed the charges in September, saying there was political meddling in the case. The ruling, coming on top of the Zuma camp's assertions that Mr Mbeki was trying to smear his rival, spurred the ANC to remove Mr Mbeki. Prosecutors are appealing the ruling and have said they could recharge Mr Zuma. - (Reuters)