FOR HOW LONG WILL SHAUN ABRAHAMS REMAIN HIS OWN MAN?

8 July 2015

Congress of the People welcomes Shaun Kevin Abrahams coming out publicly to share his vision, as the new NPA boss, with the nation. He has a huge challenge to reverse the bad publicity that the NPA has had for a very long time (see BDLive report).

South Africans were happily surprised with his appointment. President Zuma made the announcement of his appointment on 17 June, only two weeks after the former NPA head walked away with a healthy golden handshake.

Listening to Mr Abrahams is encouraging. He undertakes to be his own man and assures us that he will implement the law without fear or favour. We hope that this will indeed be the case.

Whether it is desirable or possible for him to strive to be a slave driver is a matter of another debate.

We believe that Mr Abraham’s desk will soon stack up with dockets arising from the report of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the Marikana massacre. How he handles these cases will be the acid test of his independence and impartiality.

COPE reiterates that the NPA needs resolute leadership. The image of the NPA is badly damaged. Mr Shaun Abrahams bears a heavy responsibility.

Will the toxic political environment at the NPA permit Mr Abrahams to remain his own man? That is the intriguing question.

Cope will watch the new NPA boss with hawk eyes.

Statement issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE spokesperson, July 8 2015