Advocate Nicolette Bell, advocate Adrian Mopp and advocate Andrea Johnson were in the hot seat for the NDPP post on Wednesday. Here are the best and worst moments. Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, advocate Nicolette Bell, one of three candidates interviewed for the position of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) on Wednesday, 10 December, was frank: “To prosecute, and to prosecute successfully, we need evidence.
We need witnesses to come forward and to testify. But witnesses are scared.” Her comment came on the back of themurder of Marius van der Merwe, a Madlanga Commission witness, outside his home in Brakpan, Gauteng, on 5 December. Van der Merwe – a former Ekurhuleni metro police officer – gave anonymous testimony before the commission about the alleged torture and murder cover-up of a robbery suspect in 2022.
He said he had been tasked with the disposal of the body. Daily Maverick’s Caryn Dolleyreportedthat among those Van der Merwe implicated was suspended Ekurhuleni metro police boss Julius Mkhwanazi. Van der Merwe was not under witness protection.
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Daily Maverick’s Vincent Cruywagenreportedthat he turned down an offer to be put into the programme. Police have since identified three “persons of interest” in his killing. His murder is the latest incident in an ugly string of whistleblower assassinations.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi (who chairs the NDPP interview advisory panel) has received intense criticism after saying the Justice Department would engage the Madlanga Commission about reviewing how witness testimonies were broadcast to improve their safety,reported News24. Political parties accused her of attempting to shift blame from the state’s failure to protect witnesses, reported the publication. Bell told theseven-person advisory panelon appointing a new NDPP that the protection of witnesses was paramount to obtaining successful prosecutions.
Her Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, advocate Adrian Mopp, later said the same thing. Mopp and Bell are among six candidates competing for the top post at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and were interviewed along with Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) head Andrea Johnson on Wednesday. The marathon session saw panellists sit for more than nine hours interviewing the three candidates. Chairperson of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime, advocate Xolisile Khanyile, former NDPP advocate Menzi Simelane and former NPA Investigating Director advocate Hermione Cronje will be interviewed on Thursday, 11 December.
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