The NPA to prosecute Gauteng Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker
28 June 2022
Barely two weeks after AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) about the abandoned case against Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, the state has decided to prosecute her. The Deputy Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature will face charges of assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily harm and crimen injuria. The case stems from an alleged attack on police Protection and Security Services officer, Sgt. Lizzy Mojapelo.
She approached the unit after the NPA declined to prosecute. The matter was withdrawn last year after senior prosecutors allegedly told Mojapelo that the matter would be difficult to prosecute because the suspect is a very high-profile person.
Today Adv. Andrew Chauke, the Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, wrote in a letter addressed to the unit:
“Having studied the contents of the docket, your request for a nolle prosequi certificate and the report of the relevant Senior Public Prosecutor, this office is satisfied that there is a prima facie case against Nomvuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela and the matter should not have been withdrawn against her.