I haven’t considered resigning yet – Abrahams
3 November 2016
Cape Town - National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams says he has not considered resigning following the fallout from the botched prosecution of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
Abrahams was briefing the media in Parliament on Thursday over the seizure and recovery of 29 farms following allegations of corruption and collusion in their repatriation by the State since 2006.
Responding to journalists’ questions on the Gordhan saga, Abrahams said he still hasn’t given any thought to the calls for him to resign.
"I haven't considered it yet, whether it's necessary for me to step down," he said.
"But I will always do what is right. That is the oath I have taken from the commencement of my career."
There has been growing calls for Abrahams to step down or face an inquiry into his fitness to hold office, after he withdrew charges against Gordhan on Monday.
Reasons
He is due to appear before Parliament's portfolio committee on justice and correctional services on Friday over the handling of the charges against Gordhan.
When asked if he would consider issuing an apology to the public, he said expected the portfolio committee to ask him that as well.
"I don't think it's necessary for me to answer that question here.
"Of course I expect the committee to ask as well. Allow me the opportunity to deal with the issue there," he said.
Abrahams said he would make a presentation to the committee to explain the reasons for dropping the charges.
In withdrawing the charges against Gordhan, former South African Revenue Service commissioner Oupa Magashula and former deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay, Abrahams said he was satisfied that the trio did not have the requisite intention to act unlawfully.
They were due to appear in court on Wednesday in relation to Pillay's early retirement, on which Gordhan and Magashula signed off. He said the matter was not a blunder, but a matter of a difference of legal opinions.
This article first appeared on News24, see here.
