Menzi Simelane, a leader South Africa does not need

It is now very clear to all of us that the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Adv. Menzi Simelane, represents exactly what a young democracy like South Africa DOES NOT need. His appointment seemed bizarre from the start. Those of us who believe that the ANC has the ability to rise and take this country to a higher level, were somewhat gobsmacked at his appointment. Clearly there was a much better equipped man in the Zuma team who could have been deployed to that position, at least I thought.

After having been exposed as a man of little principle by Cde. Ginwala and Adv.Wim Tengrove, it was never good judgement to appoint him to head the NDPP. But it happenned nevertheless. When a leader moves into a position with public sentiment overwhelmingly against him, you would expect such a leader to get into a reputational damage control mode. But not Cde. Simelane!

A few months into the job, he was accused of gagging his officials, prosecutors nogal to talk to the media. One could perhaps forgive this move as an organ that he runs, the NDPP, requires some level of control regarding communication with the media. But then he suprisingly dropped a bombshell by dropping the case of the Asset Forfeiture Unit against Fana "Styles" Hlongwane.

Hlongwane has a dark cloud hanging over his head as he is seen as the man who received all the Arms Deal corruption money. It is believed by some that the reason he had to be let off the hook is that some of the money paid to him found its way to either the ANC or some powerful figures within the ANC.Today Hlongwane lives a flamboyant life, with stories making rounds that he has actually become Jozi's own Hugh Heffner. Clearly Cde. Simelane does not think it strange that this former civil servant has become a billionaire overnight.

The latest questionable saga that Cde. Simelane has plunged the NDPP in is regarding the demotion of some senior prosecutors. Some of the prosecutors he strangely demoted are seen to be suffering the consequences of losing favour with Simelane. It is alleged that chief prosecutor Andre Lamprecht has been demoted to an ordinary prosecutor because he refused to obey Simelane's instruction not to oppose bail for hip-hop musician Molemo "Jub Jub" Maarohanye. "Juj jub" is currently out on bail for the death of 4 Soweto pupils who were hit by his speeding car that was apparently in a street race with a friend. This same "Jub jub" has been visited by the powerful ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema while still in prison.Another prosecutor who was demoted is reportedly one of the prosecutors that was involved in one of the many Jacob Zuma cases.

It is clear that Adv. Simelane does not intend to improve his reputation in any way, he is intent to act in the most questionable of ways. If he continues to act in this way, the already weak NDPP will definitely be the biggest reputational liability the President Zuma will court in his presidency. The brazenness with which Simelane goes about smacks of a man who has little regard for the country and its constitution.He does not inspire this nation that he is a true custodian of its future. Msholozi, Nxamala, my president, please remove this man before it is too late.