The National Prosecuting Authority has appeared to step back from its earlier admission of political interference in apartheid-era prosecutions. This shift emerged during cross-examination at the Khampepe inquiry on 25 May. Former president Thabo Mbeki is also challenging a summons to testify before the same panel.
During questioning of former acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Silas Ramaite, NPA advocate Yonela Ntloko stated that the authority does not know anything about interference. She added that the NPA cannot establish interference and instead pointed to a lack of resistance by officials and the complexities of a young democracy.
This marks a change from the NPA’s 2019 affidavit in the Ahmed Timol case, where Senior Deputy Director Torie Pretorius acknowledged political pressure on prosecutions. Former NPA head Vusi Pikoli has also testified to withering pressure from political figures including Bridget Mabandla.
Mbeki received a summons on 14 May to appear before the inquiry. He has asked the Gauteng High Court to suspend it while a Constitutional Court ruling on alleged bias by chair Sisi Khampepe remains pending. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on 29 June.
