Prosecutions boss Vusi Pikoli lacked judgment in his work, the State said in Johannesburg at Friday's closing arguments into his fitness to hold office.

"He lacks judgement in the kind of things he does," charged State advocate Kgomotso Moroka, seated opposite Pikoli, who showed no reaction.

Addressing the Ginwala inquiry, she said that individually, the State's grievances against him did not warrant dismissal, but collectively, his activities amounted to impeachable conduct.

Pikoli was suspended last September for a range of reasons, including the government's belief that he didn't inform Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla of his intention to execute search warrants at the premises of National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, and that he failed to take national security into account when striking plea bargains.

Pikoli had argued that the only reason he was axed was to stop the corruption and defeating the ends of justice charges that the suspended Selebi now faced.

Moroka submitted: "A number of incidents since 2005 [occurred during] which, in the view of government, Mr Pikoli started conducting himself in a manner that was not fit for the National Director of Public Prosecutions."

She said that certain events showed inconsistent behaviour. Failed to inform minister about raids

He had informed Mabandla about search warrants, but not about raids, and had allowed searches of ANC president Jacob Zuma's office in August 2005 to be undertaken by unvetted officials.

On the complaint that Mabandla had not been kept informed of the dates that warrants would be executed, assessor Ismail Semenya asked why she had not simply asked Pikoli for them.

Moroka said that went to the nature of the relationship between the two.

Failure to keep her informed showed disrespect, impacted on the respect her colleagues would have for her and would impact on how she reported to President Thabo Mbeki.

If the prosecution wasn't accountable to her she would not be able to exercise her final responsibilities for the justice department, like the formulation of policy.

She said he also showed "utmost disrespect" to Mbeki by not agreeing with his request for two weeks to create an "enabling" national security environment to execute the search warrant against Selebi.

She said the State agreed that the law gave the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) independence, but that the justice minister had final responsibility over them. 'Not just a reporting conduit'

"She is not just a reporting conduit. She has much more power than the NPA would have understand her powers to be," argued Moroka.

The inquiry has heard allegations that Pikoli allowed his officials to interact with foreign agents. He also allegedly did not tell the NIA about a report he was given on claims of a plot to bring Zuma to power, and then not helping an investigation into its source.

He was also accused of not co-operating with justice department director general Menzi Simelane on performance reviews.

Pikoli had argued that the NPA was an independent body.

The validity of the warrants that enabled the searches at Zuma's offices were confirmed in a Constitutional Court ruling on Thursday. Zuma would however approach the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday to have the case against him reviewed.

The findings of the inquiry would be given to Mbeki who would take them to Parliament for discussion.