afrol News, 11 August - The office of the presidency in South Africa said today, it would respect and abide by the judgement of the High Court and halt the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) pending the legal hearings brought into court by the former and sacked director, Vusi Pikoli.

The high court has earlier ruled in favour of Mr Pikoli, who made an application to block president Jacob Zuma from making a permanent appointment for the head of NDPP until his application is heard in November.

"The President respects the ruling and will abide by it," President Zuma's spokesman Vincent Magwenya said in a statement.

He also said the office of the presidency was yet to study the details of the full judgement before making further comments.

Mr Pikoli was suspended by President Thabo Mbeki for allegedly compromising national security in the handling of a corruption case involving former National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, who has since been replaced by Mr Zuma.

He challenged the decision to fire him, which was also endorsed by parliament, saying the decision was not related to claims of his fitness to lead the prosecution office, but of his intention to arrest the former police commissioner on corruption allegations.

Mr zuma has come under fire in his recent appointments of top positions in the country’s institutions of justice and law enforcement, that include the Constitutional Court, the Police and now the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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