Hofmeyr rejects claims of political interference in the dropping of charges against Zuma
Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Willie Hofmeyr has rejected any suggestion that there was political interference on his part in the dropping of charges against former president Jacob Zuma.
"I put it to you that the decision not to prosecute the former president amounted to political interference in the decision-making process of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)," advocate Norman Arendse, SC, said to Hofmeyr during cross-examination on Monday.
"I don't quite understand what you suggest is the political interference. It was a decision by top management and we did not consult with any politicians on that matter," Hofmeyr said in response.
The deputy NDPP revealed this in Tshwane at the commission of inquiry into the fitness of suspended deputy NDPP Nomgcobo Jiba and suspended special director of public prosecutions Lawrence Mrwebi to hold office.
The NPA, led by then acting head Mokotedi Mpshe, in 2009 dropped fraud and corruption charges against Zuma two weeks before the 2009 general elections.