Mbeki asks to be added to NPA's appeal hearing

BLOEMFONTEIN - Former president Thabo Mbeki on Friday asked to be added as intervening party or amicus curiae to the National Prosecuting Authority’s appeal hearing at the Supreme Court of Appeal on November 28.

The NPA is appealing against a Durban High Court judgment that invalidated charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Judge Chris Nicholson granted the state leave to appeal his September 12 judgment.

On September 12, Nicholson ruled that the State’s decision to prosecute the African National Congress president was unlawful because the state had failed to take representation from Zuma.

Earlier it was reported that Mbeki intended taking to the Supreme Court of Appeal his challenge against the same judgment that inferred he politically meddled in the NPA’s investigation of ANC president Jacob Zuma.

This followed the failure of Mbeki’s bid to have the ruling revoked in the Constitutional Court (CC).

The CC dismissed his application, saying it was “not in the interests of justice” to hear it at this stage.

A Supreme Court of Appeal official said Mbeki’s request was referred to a bench of five judges that would hear the NPA application.

-Sapa