‘Redeployment' of prosecutor raises COSATU's concern

The Congress of South African Trade Unions shares the concern of the Public Servants Association over the apparent demotion of state prosecutor, Andre Lambrecht, who was told on Tuesday, 23 March 2010, that he had been "relieved of his managerial duties and told to work as a prosecutor in court."

This followed his alleged refusal to obey a verbal instruction from the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng, Gladstone Maema, to drop the state's opposition to bail being granted to Molemo ‘Jub Jub' Maarohanye' in Protea Magistrates' Court. He refused to execute the order unless he received it in writing, which he did not, and proceeded to oppose Jub Jub's bail application.

Maema is alleged to have reported to have told Lambrecht that he was passing on an order from the National Prosecuting Authority Director, Menzi Simelane. 

COSATU agrees with PSA's Manie de Clercq that the NPS's contention that Lambrecht was merely ‘redeployed' is ‘nonsense' and agrees that it is strange that his redeployment happened on the same day he refused to obey the NPA's instruction.

The PSA has now declared a dispute and has referred the matter to the Bargaining Council for mediation and conciliation. COSATU will await the outcome with great interest. If the ‘redeployment' is confirmed, it will indicate that we are another step further down the road to a banana republic.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, March 29 2010

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