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Image: OUTA
Civil society calls for more robust law on NDPP appointment
The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture (CSWG) has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking him to ensure the implementation of the Zondo Commission's recommendation on improving the process of appointing a National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is part of the CSWG.
The process of appointing a new NDPP is currently underway, as the term of office of the current NDPP, Shamila Batohi, ends in January 2026. In October, the President appointed a panel to select candidates, which the CSWG welcomed.
The CSWG letter points out that the State Capture Commission (the Zondo Commission) recommended re-examining the process of appointing the NDPP and that, in the President's response to those recommendations, he had detailed the need to amend the National Prosecuting Authority Act (NPA Act) in order to do this.
The CSWG letter points out that this has not yet been done, emphasises the need for transparency in this appointment, and calls for clarity on the way forward.
"In this regard, we call for the amendment to section 10 of the NPA Act to codify in legislation the process for selecting the NDPP, which includes, among other elements, a public nomination process and public interviews," says the letter.
"Enshrining in legislation a robust process for the selection of the NDPP does not usurp Presidential prerogative to appoint; it simply introduces an appropriate check and balance into the selection process."
The CSWG letter is here.
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