Vusi Pikoli
Encyclopedia
Vusumzi "Vusi" Pikoli is a South Africa
n advocate, and the recently fired head of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority
. He is noted for instigating criminal charges against disgraced South African police commissioner
Jackie Selebi
and ANC
president Jacob Zuma
. In 2008 he was suspended from his duties by President Thabo Mbeki
, a close confidant of Selebi, and then subsequently fired by Mbeki's successor, Kgalema Motlanthe, who is an ally of Zuma. As such, opposition parties and sections of the press have claimed Pikoli is the victim of two separate political conspiracies.
, and later obtained undergraduate degrees from the National University of Lesotho
and a MA in Law from the University of Zimbabwe
in 1988.
As a student he was an active member of the ANC's
youth movement, and received military training in Angola.
as the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
On September 24, 2007 President Thabo Mbeki suspended Pikoli in terms of Section 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecution Act 32 of 1998, citing an "irretrievable break down in the working relationship between the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and the NDPP." Three days later the South African Broadcasting Corporation
claimed that a warrant was issued on September 10th by the NPA for the arrest of the head of the South African Police
and Interpol
, Jackie Selebi
- a close confidant of Mbeki. According to SABC the warrant was secured by Pikoli, before Pikoli was suspended by the country's President Mbeki. Journalists at the Mail and Guardian subsequently provided supporting evidence to the claim that Mbeki had suspended Pikoli as part of a bid to shield Police Commissioner Selebi. The leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance party Helen Zille
, said that the suspension of Pikoli was a “serious development” that needed further explanation: “The country needs to know why Pikoli has been suspended.” Human Sciences Research Council political commentator Adam Habib
said:
After Mbeki's resignation
from the presidency, his successor Kgalema Motlanthe fired Pikoli. Opposition leader Helen Zille pointed out that even though Motlanthe is a close supporter of Mbeki's political rival Jacob Zuma
, Motlanthe had his own reasons for distrusting Pikoli. In particular she claimed that Pikoli's efforts to charge Zuma with corruption made him a target for Motlanthe, and that Pikoli had been both suspended and fired for political reasons.
Pikoli's dismissal would have to be ratified by Parliament. The proceedings got off to a shaky start when the co-chairperson of the ad hoc parliamentary committee dealing with the matter, Oupa Monareng
was revealed to have been convicted of criminal charges in the mid 1990s.
On 11 August 2009 Pikoli was granted an interim interdict by the High Court in Pretoria which prevents Zuma from appointing a successor to the position. This was until the application could be heard by the same court in November.
On 21 November 2009 the government reached a R
7.5 million out-of-court settlement with Pikoli to stop his legal bid for reinstatement.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n advocate, and the recently fired head of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority
National Prosecuting Authority
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa , created a single National Prosecution Authority , which is governed by the National Prosecuting Authority Act...
. He is noted for instigating criminal charges against disgraced South African police commissioner
South African Police Service
The South African Police Service is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa. Its 1116 police stations in South Africa are divided according to the provincial borders, and a Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province...
Jackie Selebi
Jackie Selebi
Jacob Sello Selebi is the former national commissioner of the South African Police Service, and a former president of Interpol. In January 2008, Selebi was put on extended leave as national police commissioner, and resigned as president of Interpol, after he was charged with corruption in his...
and ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
president Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
. In 2008 he was suspended from his duties by President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
, a close confidant of Selebi, and then subsequently fired by Mbeki's successor, Kgalema Motlanthe, who is an ally of Zuma. As such, opposition parties and sections of the press have claimed Pikoli is the victim of two separate political conspiracies.
Education
Pikoli attended St John's College in MthathaMthatha
Mthatha is the main town of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town has an airport, previously known by the name K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima....
, and later obtained undergraduate degrees from the National University of Lesotho
National University of Lesotho
The National University of Lesotho is situated at Roma some 34 kilometers southeast of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. The Roma valley is broad and is surrounded by a barrier of rugged mountains which provides magnificent scenery. The University enjoys a temperate climate with four distinctive...
and a MA in Law from the University of Zimbabwe
University of Zimbabwe
The University of Zimbabwe in Harare, is the oldest and largest university in Zimbabwe. It was founded through a special relationship with the University of London and it opened its doors to its first students in 1952. The university has ten faculties offering a wide variety of degree programmes...
in 1988.
As a student he was an active member of the ANC's
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
youth movement, and received military training in Angola.
Early career
Between 1991 and 1994 he worked in the private legal profession, but became Special Advisor to the Minister of Justice in 1994. He served in that capacity until 1997, when he became Deputy Director-General (Human Resources) in the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development. In 1999 he became Director-General in the same department, a position he held for six years.National Director of Public Prosecutions
In 2005 he was appointed to head up the National Prosecuting AuthorityNational Prosecuting Authority
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa , created a single National Prosecution Authority , which is governed by the National Prosecuting Authority Act...
as the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
On September 24, 2007 President Thabo Mbeki suspended Pikoli in terms of Section 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecution Act 32 of 1998, citing an "irretrievable break down in the working relationship between the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and the NDPP." Three days later the South African Broadcasting Corporation
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
claimed that a warrant was issued on September 10th by the NPA for the arrest of the head of the South African Police
South African Police
The South African Police was the country's police force until 1994. The SAP traced its origin to the Dutch Watch, a paramilitary organization formed by settlers in the Cape in 1655, initially to protect civilians against attack and later to maintain law and order...
and Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
, Jackie Selebi
Jackie Selebi
Jacob Sello Selebi is the former national commissioner of the South African Police Service, and a former president of Interpol. In January 2008, Selebi was put on extended leave as national police commissioner, and resigned as president of Interpol, after he was charged with corruption in his...
- a close confidant of Mbeki. According to SABC the warrant was secured by Pikoli, before Pikoli was suspended by the country's President Mbeki. Journalists at the Mail and Guardian subsequently provided supporting evidence to the claim that Mbeki had suspended Pikoli as part of a bid to shield Police Commissioner Selebi. The leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance party Helen Zille
Helen Zille
Helen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape, a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party, and a former Mayor of Cape Town.Zille is a former journalist and anti-apartheid activist, and famously exposed the truth...
, said that the suspension of Pikoli was a “serious development” that needed further explanation: “The country needs to know why Pikoli has been suspended.” Human Sciences Research Council political commentator Adam Habib
Adam Habib
Adam Habib is a citizen of South Africa, a professor of political science, and deputy vice chancellor of the University of Johannesburg.-Barred entry to the United States:...
said:
After Mbeki's resignation
South African presidential election, 2008
An indirect presidential election was held in South Africa on September 25, 2008 following the resignation of the President Thabo Mbeki. The ruling party, the African National Congress , with a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly of South Africa, elected Kgalema Motlanthe as President...
from the presidency, his successor Kgalema Motlanthe fired Pikoli. Opposition leader Helen Zille pointed out that even though Motlanthe is a close supporter of Mbeki's political rival Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
, Motlanthe had his own reasons for distrusting Pikoli. In particular she claimed that Pikoli's efforts to charge Zuma with corruption made him a target for Motlanthe, and that Pikoli had been both suspended and fired for political reasons.
Pikoli's dismissal would have to be ratified by Parliament. The proceedings got off to a shaky start when the co-chairperson of the ad hoc parliamentary committee dealing with the matter, Oupa Monareng
Oupa Monareng
Oupa Ephraim Monareng is a South African politician, a former member of the African National Congress and was a member of the National Assembly from 2004-2009. He is on the Johannesburg Mayoral Committee with a portfolio for Economic Development.-References:...
was revealed to have been convicted of criminal charges in the mid 1990s.
On 11 August 2009 Pikoli was granted an interim interdict by the High Court in Pretoria which prevents Zuma from appointing a successor to the position. This was until the application could be heard by the same court in November.
On 21 November 2009 the government reached a R
South African rand
The rand is the currency of South Africa. It takes its name from the Witwatersrand , the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. The rand has the symbol "R" and is subdivided into 100 cents, symbol "c"...
7.5 million out-of-court settlement with Pikoli to stop his legal bid for reinstatement.