SCENE-SETTERMeet the seven panellists who are steering the interviews for the NPA’s top jobBy Victoria O’Regan

Six candidates will be interviewed on Wednesday and Thursday to succeed NPA boss Shamila Batohi. The advisory panel will submit its recommendations to President Cyril Ramaphosa after the interviews. Meet the panellists.

The seven-person advisory panel on appointing a new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) begins two days of public interviews on Wednesday, 10 December, to fill the top post at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The position at the helm of the NPA has been a poisoned chalice – not a single NPA boss in democratic South Africa has served a full 10-year term. NDPP Shamila Batohi will retire in January 2026, after seven years in the role.

The panel,comprising leaders of the legal fraternity and Chapter Nine institutions, will interview six of an initial 32 candidates at the Pretoria offices of the Auditor-General of South Africa. Daily Maverick’sFerial Haffajee breaks down who the six hopefuls (four women and two men) are. Advocate Menzi Simelane, as Haffajee points out, is ostensibly the most controversial candidate vying for the job.

[paywall]

Simelane served as NDPP under former president Jacob Zuma and is widely regarded as ill-fitted for the role. Legal watchdogFreedom Under Law (FUL)and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) have both made submissions objecting to his nomination as NDPP. FUL argued that Simelane is “not a fit and proper person” for the NDPP appointment.

“An attempt to appoint Simelane in light of the multitude of concerns highlighted in this submission would be unjustifiable, irrational, and vulnerable to further legal challenge. It is also damaging to public confidence in the process of appointing the new NDPP,” it said in itssubmissionon 5 December. Casac urged the panel to reconsider its decision to shortlist Simelane, saying it believed this was “essential” to restoring the integrity of the entire selection process.

Justice Department spokesperson Terrence Manase told Daily Maverick that during the interview stage, the panel “will engage candidates on the substance of all submissions received”. He said the panel met on Tuesday to deliberate on the submissions in preparation for the interviews.

[/paywall]