Menzi Simelane defends himself in bid to return to helm of NPA

Former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Advocate Menzi Simelane has defended himself during an interview for the job.

Simelane is one of six candidates vying for the job ahead of current NPA head Advocate Shamila Batohi’s end of term in January.

He was sacked from the position in 2012 after the Constitutional Court found that his appointment by former President Jacob Zuma was invalid.

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Following the 2007 inquiry into former NPA head Advocate Vusi Pikoli’s fitness to hold office, the chair, Dr Frene Ginwala, found that Simelane, who was the director general in the Department of Justice, misled the inquiry, and that his testimony was riddled with irregularities.

During his interviews on Thursday, the panel asked Simelane why he did not challenge Ginwala’s findings against him.

But he insisted Ginwala’s comments were not findings.

“It could not have been a finding minister, because the inquiry was not about me. The inquiry was about somebody else. I just came as a witness to talk to specific issues, so the chair of the inquiry, for whatever reason, found that I am not happy with this witness. She makes a general comment in the body of her report.”

But it would be the comments made in Ginwala’s report that would ultimately lead the Constitutional Court to find Simelane’s appointment invalid.

Meanwhile, the advisory panel will make a recommendation to President Cyril Ramaphosa on the candidates it endorses, and it will be up to the president to make a final decision.