Pule Mabe out to quash graft charges against him

ANC bigwig challenges the basis for the case

- By Mawande AmaShabalala [e-mail]

Former ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe has briefed his legal team to mount a fresh legal battle for a permanent stay of prosecution of the corruption charges against him by the State, Sunday World has reliably learnt.

Mabe is set to file the papers this week in what is set to be a dramatic twist in the case that has seen him postpone his political life by stepping aside from the ANC NEC.

Our moles in the defence team have whispered that Mabe is going to argue that there were procedural irregularities and abuse of process in the buildup to him being charged last October.

Alternatively, our insider added, Mabe will go for an application to have the matter struck off the roll.

“The defence will argue that from the outset, this case has suffered from fatal legal and constitutional defects that render the prosecution unsustainable; the argument does meet the minimum legal threshold for the extraordinary relief sought,” said our mole.

Mabe has already hinted at his defence strategy at the SIU Tribunal in an explosive affidavit, where he pokes holes in the case against him.

He cited that the criminal investigation started in December 2020, when the SIU proclamation by President Cyril Ramaphosa came into effect only in April 2021.