The civil rights organisation AfriForum welcomes the announcement from Shaun Abrahams, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will prosecute Jacob Zuma, the former President, on charges of corruption among others. According to AfriForum Adv. Gerrie Nel, Head of AfriForum’s Private Prosecuting Unit, will monitor the NPA’s actions to ensure that the prosecution runs smoothly.
According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, Abrahams took the decision that Zuma must be prosecuted with the knowledge that Nel would prosecute Zuma privately on behalf of AfriForum should the NPA not do this. Kriel points out that AfriForum established a private prosecuting unit under the leadership of Nel for the very reason of applying pressure on the NPA to do their job. “We therefore view the NPA’s decision to prosecute Zuma not only as a victory for AfriForum, but also for the principle of equality before the law,” Kriel adds.