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President Cyril Ramaphosa’s suspension of South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke, may affect the progress made in the matter involving SAFA President Danny Jordaan and his co-accused.
The NPA has informed SABC Sport that they will have to wait for the appointment of the acting DPP to brief them on the matter, and he or she will have the prerogative of sticking with the decision that Chauke possibly had taken on whether the charges will be dropped or not.
The case was postponed earlier this year to August 15, pending another challenge by the football association in the High Court, which is likely to affect the matter. Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana says the decision will be announced in court on the 15th.
Meanwhile defense attorney for accused number one and three – Jordaan and SAFA CFO Gronie Hluyo, respectively – Victor Nkwashu, told the public broadcaster that the developments should not have any bearing on the case because Chauke was not directly involved with the case.
“Not really. Not as far as I know the hierarchy of the NPA. I did not write to the DPP to say he must drop charges. I wrote to the regional head of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court Advocate Gideon Nkwana, who’s in charge of the prosecutor (Moagi Malebati) who’s tasked with my matter.
So the suspension of the DPP has got no bearing whatsoever”, said Nkwashu.
He was coy when pressed for answers as to whether SAFA’s challenge of the March 2024 search and seizure at their Nasrec offices had been heard already in the High Court.
At the same time, the representative for accused two and four – Trevor Neethling and his company Grit Communications, and James Ndebele, also says that he does not see the matter being postponed due to Chauke’s icing.
He says “we have written to the office of the DPP seeking a fair and prompt resolution and remain committed to due process”.
Ndebele had asked Chauke to drop the charges against his clients, insisting that they’re just collateral damage in the pursuit of Jordaan.
The NPA has informed SABC Sport that they will have to wait for the appointment of the acting DPP to brief them on the matter, and he or she will have the prerogative of sticking with the decision that Chauke possibly had taken on whether the charges will be dropped or not.
The case was postponed earlier this year to August 15, pending another challenge by the football association in the High Court, which is likely to affect the matter. Spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwana says the decision will be announced in court on the 15th.
Meanwhile defense attorney for accused number one and three – Jordaan and SAFA CFO Gronie Hluyo, respectively – Victor Nkwashu, told the public broadcaster that the developments should not have any bearing on the case because Chauke was not directly involved with the case.
“Not really. Not as far as I know the hierarchy of the NPA. I did not write to the DPP to say he must drop charges. I wrote to the regional head of the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court Advocate Gideon Nkwana, who’s in charge of the prosecutor (Moagi Malebati) who’s tasked with my matter.
So the suspension of the DPP has got no bearing whatsoever”, said Nkwashu.
He was coy when pressed for answers as to whether SAFA’s challenge of the March 2024 search and seizure at their Nasrec offices had been heard already in the High Court.
At the same time, the representative for accused two and four – Trevor Neethling and his company Grit Communications, and James Ndebele, also says that he does not see the matter being postponed due to Chauke’s icing.
He says “we have written to the office of the DPP seeking a fair and prompt resolution and remain committed to due process”.
Ndebele had asked Chauke to drop the charges against his clients, insisting that they’re just collateral damage in the pursuit of Jordaan.
