What Happened
Advocate Shamila Batohi, the former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), is facing legal challenges from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). The party has filed an urgent application in the Pretoria North Gauteng High Court to block her pension and other post-term benefits, as well as to reverse the decision to fund her legal costs in the ongoing Nkabinde Inquiry. This application was submitted on Monday, with the hearing set for March.
Why It Matters
The MKP’s application is based on serious allegations of misconduct and possible perjury during Batohi’s tenure as NDPP. The party argues that any payment of public funds to Batohi should be contingent upon the resolution of these allegations, which they claim were highlighted during her testimony at the Nkabinde Inquiry. The party’s acting parliamentary leader, Des van Rooyen, emphasized the need for lawful and rational expenditure of public funds, raising concerns about the implications of authorizing payments to Batohi amidst these allegations.
What’s Next
The court will hear the MKP’s application in March, which is divided into three parts. The first part seeks to restrain the relevant government entities from processing Batohi’s pension payout until the legal proceedings are concluded. The MKP has also requested that any payments made to Batohi be subject to sufficient security to cover potential adverse findings against her. The outcome of this case could set a significant precedent regarding the handling of public funds in relation to allegations of misconduct by high-ranking officials.
