Parliament's December recess has been cut short by a week to table President Kgalema Motlanthe's decision to axe suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli.

This was due to the importance of the matter and the time required to consider it, the Office of the Speaker said in a statement on Tuesday.

After consultation, the Speaker of Parliament's National Assembly Gwendoline Mahlangu-Nkwabinde and National Council of Provinces chairperson Mninwa Mahlangu had decided to bring forward by a week the resumption of Parliament's annual session, it said.

While Parliament was to have been on recess until 19 January, the next Parliamentary session would now start on 12 January when the president's report would be tabled and referred to the relevant committee.

"The intention is that the matter should be finalised within the stipulated period after it is tabled in terms of the legislation."

Mahlangu-Nkwabinde and Mahlangu have already received Motlanthe's decision on Pikoli.

"The National Prosecuting Authority Act requires of the President to communicate the message of the removal of the National Director of Public Prosecutions to Parliament within 14 days if it is in session or within 14 days after the commencement of the next session after recess, Parliament said in the statement.

"Once such decision has been tabled, Parliament shall within 30 days pass a resolution indicating whether or not the restoration to office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions so removed is recommended."

Parliament said Mahlangu-Nkwabine and Mahlangu had decided that an ad hoc joint committee be established to deal with the issue.

Processes for its establishment would start immediately to enable it to start work in 12 January. The committee would decide its own internal processes in terms of the Rules of Parliament. Membership would be decided by the parties and process.

Sapa