Justice Minister Insists She Was Not Put In Place To Act Against Ramaphosas Enemies

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has rejected claims that she was appointed to the post to persecute those in the ANC seen to be against President Cyril Ramaphosa .

Ramaphosas critics in the party believe that Kubayis appointment is part of a strategy to deal with those not aligned with the president. Ramaphosa moved her to the portfolio late last year in a mini reshuffle in which Thembi Simelane under fire for allegedly receiving money from a VBS fixer while Polokwane mayor was shifted to human settlements.

Kubayi told the Mail Guardian in an interview last week that while there was speculation in the party around her appointment, it was probably aimed at undermining her as she prided herself on being a professional who works and gives it all.

The minister does not prosecute. The National Prosecuting Authority NPA is independent, so I am not here on the instruction to persecute people, she said.

If a person commits a crime, they cant come and say, Mmamoloko will arrest me. I am not an arresting officer, I am not a prosecutor nor a magistrate or a judge, so it cannot come to me, she said.