S. African leader to appeal ruling on prosecutions boss

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

South African President Jacob Zuma’s lawyers will appeal a court decision granting Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa powers to appoint a new national director of public prosecutions, local media reported Thursday.

Last week, the High Court in Pretoria dismissed the current prosecution boss Shaun Abrahams.

Abrahams was expected to decided on whether to reinstate over 700 corruption charges dropped seven years ago against Zuma.

The court ruled Zuma's position constituted a conflict of interest and therefore he could not appoint a new prosecutions boss.

It ordered Zuma’s deputy Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a new prosecutions boss within 60 days.

In a media statement, Zuma's office said the president was constitutionally mandated to appoint judges, and namely the national director of public prosecutions.

“Minded by the principle of the separation of powers, constitutional legality and the rule of law, the judgment will be appealed,” the statement said.

Two months ago, the supreme court of appeal had ruled that the more-than-700 corruption charges against Zuma that were dropped had to be reinstated.

Jacob Zuma, 75, is completing his second term in office, which has been tainted by several corruption scandals.