EFF STATEMENT ON THE NATIONAL PROSECUTING AUTHORITY'S CONFIRMATION THAT PAUL PRETORIUS AND MATTHEW CHASKALSON ARE APPOINTED TO PROSECUTE ZONDO COMMISSION CASES
Tuesday, 24 September 2024
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is vindicated by the clumsy confirmation by the Spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, who confirmed during a television interview with Newzroom Afrika, that Advocate Paul Pretorius and Advocate Matthew Chaskalson were indeed appointed by the NPA to prosecute cases related to the Zondo Commission, in which they were both evidence leaders.
On the 23rd of September 2024, Advocate Mhaga spoke on behalf of the NPA in a television interview and was asked a series of straightforward questions, wherein he unwittingly confirmed a conspiracy to grant access to information to Pretorius and Chaskalson, for which they do not have the necessary security clearance, in order to prosecute those implicated in the Zondo Commission.
The EFF raised concerns on the appointment of both Pretorius and Chaskalson, who developed and led aspects of evidence at the Zondo Commission, and now will be empowered to prosecute evidence in a different legal platform.
Advocate Mhaga, who characterized the appointment of Pretorius and Chaskalson as normal and in accordance with Section 38 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, which allows the NPA to appoint the prosecutorial services of private counsel that is outside of the permanently employed services within the institution, makes a grave misinterpretation of what is irregular about the appointment of the pair by the NPA.