Shaun Abrahams is a South African lawyer and the former national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) at the National Prosecuting Authority.
Shaun Abrahams | |
|---|---|
| Director of National Prosecuting Authority | |
| In office 2015–2018 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Preceded by | Mxolisi Nxasana |
| Succeeded by | Silas Ramaite (acting)[1] Shamila Batohi |
Early life edit
Abrahams was born in Piketberg in the Cape where his father worked in construction and his mother was a teacher. He attended school in Pietermaritzburg.[2]
Career edit
Prior to his appointment in 2015 when Mxolisi Nxasana stepped down as NDPP, Abrahams had been a senior state advocate in the Priority Crimes Litigation Unit.[3] Questions were immediately raised about the manner in which he had been promoted ahead of more senior prosecutors.[4]
Abrahams had joined the NPA as an administrative clerk in a provincial office while completing his legal studies.[5][6] He holds B Iuris, B Proc and LLB degrees, which he read part-time at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.[7]
Abrahams has been seen as complicit in helping President Jacob Zuma avoid corruption charges, and was given the nickname Shaun The Sheep as a result.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Abrahams has described himself as "nobody’s man".[15]
Abrahams' appointment was challenged by Freedom Under Law, and on 8 December 2017, his appointment was set aside by a full bench of the High Court, finding that he was irregularly appointed. The court also ruled that President Zuma was conflicted and therefore a replacement should be appointed by the Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa instead, and this must be done within 60 days.[16] The NPA appealed this ruling,[17] but in August 2018, in Corruption Watch v President, the Constitutional Court ordered that Shaun Abrahams vacate his position as NDPP and President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint a new NDPP within 90 days.[18]
Abrahams reportedly retired from the NPA with benefits,[19] but the NPA declined to comment on such employment-related matters.[20] Abrahams said he would not be lost to the legal fraternity.[21]
Abrahams was succeeded as NDPP by Silas Ramaite in an acting capacity. His successor, Shamila Batohi, was appointed NDPP on 4 December 2018 and assumed office in February 2019.[22]
References edit
- ^ Mahlasa, M. "Silas Ramaite appointed as acting NPA head". News24. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ^ "How Shaun the Sheep broke the NPA". Business Live. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Shaun Abrahams appointed as National Director of Public Prosecutions". www.enca.com. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Shaun Abrahams appointed new NPA boss". Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Best qualified for the NPA job". News24. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ du Plessis, Anton (September 2016). "Interview with Shaun Abrahams, National Director of Public Prosecutions". South African Crime Quarterly (57): 61–67. doi:10.17159/2413-3108/2016/v0n57a1428. ISSN 1991-3877.
- ^ Brief Resumé, npa.gov.za
- ^ reporter, Citizen. "Shaun Abrahams appoints 'state capture team' – report". The Citizen. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "Shaun the Sheep may find new excuse not to charge Zuma – Pierre De Vos - BizNews.com". BizNews.com. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "HuffPost Weekly Review: Shaun 'The Sheep' Must Step Up, Timol Verdict Opens Pandora's Box and Fikile Crushes The Wrong Balls". Huffington Post South Africa. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "The parallels between Jacob Zuma and Harvey Weinstein cannot be missed". Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "How Shaun the sheep broke the NPA". Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Curtis, Dr Jack &. "[CARTOON] Is Shaun the Sheep Pulling the Wool Over Our Eyes?". Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Cohen, Tim (25 July 2017). "Shaun the Sheep can stop the fleecing". DispatchLIVE. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Hunter, Qaanitah. "[From our archives] New NPA boss is 'nobody's man'". The M&G Online. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ Bateman, Barry (8 December 2017). "'Conflicted' Zuma not allowed to appoint new NPA head, says court". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "NPA to appeal court ruling that Abrahams appointment was invalid". eNCA. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "The ConCourt's Abrahams judgment: 10 things you need to know".
- ^ "Shaun Abrahams retires from NPA, with benefits". News24. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "DA welcomes report on Shaun Abrahams' resignation from NPA". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Shaun Abrahams on his post-NPA plans: 'I will not be lost to the legal fraternity'". News24. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Chabalala, Jeanette (4 December 2018). "Introducing Shamila Batohi: The country's first female NPA boss".