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Johannesburg - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed it is "finalising" a decision on whether to prosecute Bosasa executives and former civil servants for corruption at the Department of Correctional Services.
NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku told News24 that a new team of detectives was assigned to the case and was working closely with the prosecutors.
"The prosecutors are in the process of finalising their decision in respect of the case," Mfaku said.
News24 revealed on Tuesday that Bosasa had sponsored President Jacob Zuma's 2014 and 2015 birthday parties in Durban through the Jacob Zuma Foundation, which is led by former SAA chair Dudu Myeni.
READ EXCLUSIVE: 'Corrupt' company sponsored Zuma's birthday parties
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) found in 2009 that Bosasa, led by CEO Gavin Watson, bribed senior correctional services officials, including then prisons boss Linda Mti and chief financial officer Patrick Gillingham, to obtain tenders worth over R1bn from the department.
Investigation
The company provided catering and security services to the country's prisons.
In 2009, the SIU report was handed to the NPA, which referred the case back to the Hawks for further investigation.
Early in 2016, the prosecutor working on the docket was removed "in the interest of the case" and replaced with a new team of advocates.
"The NPA has assigned a team of prosecutors who have worked on this matter and made significant progress with the investigating officers over a short period of time," said Mfaku.
Eight years after the case was first handed to the NPA, Mfaku wouldn't be drawn on providing a timeline for a final decision whether to prosecute or not.
"The NPA is satisfied with the work of the two prosecutors and the investigators in this matter who under very difficult circumstances took over the case which has languished over a protracted time in the care of others.
"The NPA is confident that the team has discharged its obligations in a fair and reasonable manner and will decide the matter based on fact, law and in the interests of justice," he said.
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