Madam Deputy Speaker, this week Adv Gerrie Nel was recognised by the International Association of Prosecutors for his role in the Jackie Selebi matter. It is somewhat ironic that Adv Nel, a South African, has to achieve such recognition outside his own country, when he has received nothing of the sort inside it; in fact, quite the contrary.
The reward he got in South Africa for his efforts was to be persecuted by his junior, Adv Nomgcobo Jiba, who was suspended as a Senior Director of Public Prosecutions in December 2007, reportedly because she was involved in a conspiracy to have Nel arrested before he could charge Selebi with corruption. Nel was duly arrested on 8 January 2008 and subsequently released because of a lack of evidence.
Nel was reportedly also involved in securing a conviction against Adv Jiba's husband for stealing monies from his trust account. It has also recently emerged that Richard Mdluli was involved in ensuring that the case against Adv Jiba did not proceed.
When we take a look at where all these individuals are today, we see that it paints a very sad picture. Disgraced ex-police chief Jackie Selebi has finally had his conviction confirmed, after spending about R17 million of our money to do so! Yet, because of his almost immediate contraction of Shaikalitis, he has spent barely a day in prison. This, after abusing not only his position as South Africa's police chief, but at the same time the position of head of Interpol, which he held.
Adv Jiba is now acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, NDPP, a position requiring the ultimate integrity. Her husband has been pardoned by President Zuma. As for Richard Mdluli, we all know that the only reason he is not still heading up the Mangaung spy operation within Crime Intelligence is because, once again, civil society has had to take the matter to court to try to preserve what is left of the integrity of our criminal justice system.
This would be funny if it were not so serious. The DA congratulates Adv Gerrie Nel. [Time expired.]