FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape notes with serious concern AfriForum’s attempt to put undue pressure on the NPA , its independent processes and decisions to determine cases to prosecute.
In their recent statement referring to the correct decision of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) concerning an unfounded and baseless allegation by Mr Lonwabo Bam, AfriForum exhibits a high narrow degree of unethical, illegal attempt at unduly influencing the independent prosecutorial decisions and processes of the NPA.
The NPA’s decision on this matter was made and there is no material information that can warrant a review of that decision. This latest attempt to unduly influence the NPA is a fishing expedition whose objectives are diametrically opposed to the laws of our country.
It is public knowledge that a report of the Public Protector on this matter was set aside by the High Court of South Africa and this was followed by a decision of the NPA not to proceed with the prosecution on this matter.
Both the order of the court and the decision of the NPA were made independently and were only guided by the rule of law. The AfriForum’s attempt is jaundiced by hatred sponsored by Mr Bam and has nothing to do with the rule of law.
We call on the AfriForum to desist from their attempt to unduly influence the NPA, refrain from its ongoing campaign of dragging the names of Comrade Oscar Mabuyane and Comrade Babalo Madikizela into this matter. The agenda of Afriforum is clear as this is part of the vilification campaign against the NPA for narrow and shortsighted political gains since the two comrades were vindicated by law enforcement agencies and courts. We won’t allow white supremacist vultures to carcass on our comrades masquerading as torchbearers of rule of law assisted by external adversaries.
Given the fact that this matter was processed within the rule of law, investigated by the Hawks from Free State , any attempt to revive it is an abuse of law .
It is important that we assure the public that our leaders subjected themselves to the process of the Public Protector investigating this matter and when they were not satisfied with gross errors, material findings of the report and its remedial actions, they successfully embarked on a judicial review which resulted with the report being set aside by the High Court.
It is also important to remind the people of our country and the province, members of the ANC in particular, that our Provincial Chairperson subjected himself to the integrity processes of the ANC regarding this matter and was cleared.
There is therefore no need for this matter to be brought up again because it was exhaustively dealt with by the Public Protector, the High Court, the NPA and the ANC integrity processes. There is no justification for the request made by Mr Bam and AfriForum to the NPA.
ENDS
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS – EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Enquiries :
Cde Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
ANC Eastern Cape
Mobile No- 0849519924/0848439706
