Gerrie Nel, a prominent South African prosecutor who oversaw the convictions of Jackie Selebi, a former police chief and Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius, has resigned from his job.

Nicknamed “the pitbull” for his aggressive arguments in court, Ceoafrica gathered that Gerrie Nel who is one of the most high profile and successful prosecutors in South Africa presided upon by Jacob Zuma handed in his resignation yesterday, giving his employers 24 hours’ notice.

His fame rose internationally when he successfully prosecuted Pistorius for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013, and was also widely praised for getting Selebi, a former Interpol president, jailed in 2011 for taking bribes worth around $156,000 (£103,000) from convicted drug dealer, Glenn Agliotti.

However, today is Mr Nel's last day at the National Prosecuting Authority, and he is reportedly joining a mainly Afrikaner civil rights group, AfriForum, where he will set up a private prosecutions unit.