Muofhe says he was called to a meeting with former police minister Nathi Nhleko and former president Jacob Zuma where he was offered the job.
Head of the Special Investigating Unit, Mahlodi Muofhe said that Jacob Zuma and former police minister Nathi Nhleko, wanted him to replace Mxolisi Nxasana as head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Testifying at the Zondo commission on Wednesday, 28 November 2018, Muofhe said Nhleko called him for a meeting in September 2014.
He told me to “ready myself for an audience with the former…president because he wanted to appoint me as director of the troubled NPA,” Muofhe said.
He told the commission that the request came as a surprise to him. “I am not sure what informed the decision to invite me,” Muofhe said.
Muofhe, however, questioned Nhleko and Zuma’s choice to appoint him and he didn’t understand what Nxasana could have possibly done wrong.
Muofhe said the former president was unhappy with Nxasana’s decision to charge the former Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, Nomgcobo Jiba.
News24 reported that Muofhe refused the offer, telling Zuma that he did not have the legal credentials required for the job and advised him to consider a more experienced candidate.
Muofhe’s testimony followed that of former Mineral Resources minister, Ngoako Ramatlhodi. Muofhe used to work for Ramatlhodi as his adviser and spokesperson.
He also told the commission that he received a letter from a Gupta company inviting both him and Ramatlhodi to discuss a working relationship over dinner.
The hearings have been taking place throughout the week at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry and are in their 32nd day.
Xiletelo Mabasa
x.mabasa@politicalanalysis.co.za
