Home » UPDATE: Gerrie Nel Quits NPA, Confirms Joining AfriForum. Check Mate Zuma?

UPDATE: Gerrie Nel Quits NPA, Confirms Joining AfriForum. Check Mate Zuma?

After the shock announcement that Gerrie Nel – who became world famous during the Oscar Pistorius trials – has quit the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority), the top State Prosecutor has confirmed he is joining civil-rights group AfriForum… and Twitter is abuzz with rumours that he will go after President Jacob Zuma. Nel will head up the […]

By SAPeople
31-01-17 17:41
in Eish!

After the shock announcement that Gerrie Nel – who became world famous during the Oscar Pistorius trials – has quit the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority), the top State Prosecutor has confirmed he is joining civil-rights group AfriForum… and Twitter is abuzz with rumours that he will go after President Jacob Zuma.

State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel speaks during the sentencing of former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp at the Pretoria High Court, South Africa June 13, 2016. REUTERS/Phill Magakoe/Pool

Nel will head up the Private Prosecutions Unit, which will supposedly take on those selective cases which are not prosecuted by the NPA.

AfriForum claim Nel decided to accept the position because he was “concerned over the NPA’s tendency to selective prosecutions”.

In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Nel said he has never had a political agenda, and he does not have one now. “My main concern,” he said, “is everybody should be equally before the law.”

Rumours on Twitter are that one case that the Unit may go after is President Jacob Zuma and his 783 charges of corruption… with many likening Nel’s shock new appointment to the chess move equivalent of Check Mate.

Nel said it was not an overnight decision and that “the people that mattered to me supported me”. He said he has not discussed his decision with NPA head Shaun Abrahams.

In the wake of criticism that he is joining a group that is perceived to be right wing and predominantly concerned with the rights of white Afrikaans people, Nel said “I’m proud of my integrity and I won’t sell it”. He said they will work out a concept and criteria on which cases to take on.

AfriForum’s CEO Kallie Kriel said of the group’s negative perception: “Our challenge is to know that we are doing the right thing, and to just go ahead with it.” He said their intention is that nobody is above the law.

Two weeks ago AfriForum signed a historic cooperative agreement with the South African Police Services (SAPS) to work together in the “fight against crime” in SA. Yesterday, they announced one of the first successful results of their partnership – the halting of an EFF land grab in Witrivier.

Nel’s resignation came yesterday with just 24 hours notice (which the NPA says is normal).

The NPA said it wishes him well and that “we have other highly capable prosecutors who will take over his current cases.”

South Africans have taken to Twitter to voice their reactions to Nel’s move, just five years before he was due to retire. While many are disappointed that Nel is joining AfriForum and are comparing it to the Broederbond, others have pointed out the group has evolved and is fighting crime and corruption, which has always been a priority for Nel who has found himself in an organisation, the NPA, which has been laden with rumours of inside corruption.

Meanwhile it was reported earlier this month that former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is allegedly “quietly confident” that prosecutors will be unsuccessful next month in doubling his six-year sentence for the murder of his then-girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Nel has received several honours during his 35 year career, including an award for his successful prosecution of former police chief Jackie Selebi. 

https://twitter.com/Sisonkemsimang/status/826424746711486464