Outgoing National Prosecutions Authority (NPA) head Mxolisi Nxasana earned a settlement that equals what he would have earned in the last eight years of his 10-year term.

Following Sunday’s news that Nxasana had resigned‚ his lawyer Busani Mabunda on Tuesday held a press briefing in Johannesburg to give his client's side of the story.

Mabunda would not be drawn on an exact settlement figure‚ instead choosing to say only that Nxasana took home at least what his salary would have been until his term ended.

Nxasana had only served 22 months of the 10-year-term. Some media outlets earlier reported he was given a R7-million golden handshake.

Mabunda denied media claims that Nxasana had been forced out of office.

“He was not booted out. He was not forced to resign‚” Mabunda said. “The ultimate decision was taken after a culmination of an agreement between him and the president.”

When asked by journalists for reasons why Nxasana had resigned‚ Mabunda repeatedly responded simply: “He has resigned.”

Mabunda also said Nxasana had been fit to hold office‚ and that his client did have the security clearance certificate needed to be in the post‚ despite media reports that he didn't.

“It is important to put the record straight that my client made the full and frank disclosure about his criminal record during his vetting process‚” Mabunda said.

He also denied reports that the cancelled commission of inquiry into Nxasana’s fitness to hold office had been instituted because he had not disclosed “past brushes with the law”.

Mabunda said it was public knowledge that Nxasana initially had been declined a security clearance certificate‚ but had appealed the denial and was given security clearance on March 30‚ 2015.

Apparently‚ Nxasana’s parting words to staff at the NPA were: “This country has high expectations of the NPA. They expect a prosecuting authority that takes decisions promptly without fear‚ favour and prejudice‚ and the NPA should not fail them.”

Mabunda said he had not been briefed on what his client intended to do in the future.