Zuma’s appointment of top prosecutor invalid – court

of the country’s most senior prosecutor was invalid and unconstitutional.
The ruling, which sets aside the appointment of Menzi Simelane as national director of public prosecutions, comes amid criticism from opposition parties that Zuma has appointed his acolytes in senior government roles.
South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance took the case to the Appeals Court after losing a High Court bid last year to have the appointment declared invalid. It said in court papers Simelane was not fit and proper for the post to which Zuma appointed him two years ago.
Appeals Court Judge Mahomed Navsa said in his ruling that Zuma did not consider all the facts before the appointment of Simelane, as there were “many unresolved questions concerning his integrity and experience.”
“I accept that the president must have a multitude of daily duties and is a very busy man. However when he is dealing with an office as important as that of the NDPP, which is integral to the rule of law and to our success as a democracy, then time should be taken to get it right,” Navsa said.
Zuma’s spokesman and Simelane were not immediately available for comment. – Reuters.