The candidacy of Advocate Menzi Simelane, shortlisted for a position to replace the head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Shamila Batohi, has received stiff opposition. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has indicated that it will turn to court to interdict the appointment of any new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), as it deems the process flawed, whileActionSAinsists Simelane is “plainly not a fit and proper candidate.” The panel, headed by Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, started with its interviews on Wednesday. Six hopefuls are scheduled to be interviewed over two days.
Simelane is last on the list, and he is due to be interviewed only on Thursday afternoon. In a statement issued on Wednesday, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach said the party warned that the ongoing process to appoint a new NDPP has gone badly off the rails. “Thepanel set up to advise the president has chosen to interview Adv Menzi Simelane, a man already found unfit for this very office by South Africa’s highest court.
It is impossible to overlook that history.” panel set up to advise the president has chosen to interview Adv Menzi Simelane, a man already found unfit for this very office by South Africa’s highest court. It is impossible to overlook that history.” She said the Supreme Court of Appeal, and later the Constitutional Court,struck down Simelane’s 2010 appointment on grounds that went to the heart of his honesty and integrity. Those judgments have never been overturned or softened. struck down Simelane’s 2010 appointment on grounds that went to the heart of his honesty and integrity.
