PRETORIA, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), following an unprecedented advisory panel process that concluded none of the shortlisted candidates were suitable for the powerful prosecutorial role.
In a statement issued by the Presidency, Ramaphosa confirmed that Mothibi’s appointment will take effect on February 1, 2026, in accordance with Section 179(1)(a) of the Constitution and Section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act.
The appointment comes after a panel established by the President to oversee an open and transparent selection process submitted its final report on December 12, 2025.
Despite interviewing six candidates selected from an initial pool of 32 applicants, the panel advised that none met the threshold required to lead the country’s prosecution service.
Given the constitutional responsibility vested in the President to appoint the NDPP, Ramaphosa exercised his discretion to appoint Mothibi, who currently serves as Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
“The position of National Director of Public Prosecutions is central to the integrity and effectiveness of South Africa’s criminal justice system,” the Presidency said, underscoring the importance of decisive leadership at the NPA.
The advisory panel was chaired by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and comprised senior figures from key oversight institutions, including the South African Human Rights Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality, the Auditor-General, the Public Service Commission, and representatives of the legal profession.
Mothibi brings extensive prosecutorial, judicial, and governance experience to the role. He began his career as a public prosecutor in Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrates’ and Regional Courts before serving as a magistrate in the same jurisdictions.
He has also held senior legal and compliance positions in both the public and private sectors, including at the South African Revenue Service (SARS), where he served as Head of Corporate Legal Services and Head of Governance.
At the SIU, Mothibi has overseen investigations into corruption, maladministration, and the misuse of public funds, work that has placed him at the centre of South Africa’s broader accountability and anti-corruption efforts.
President Ramaphosa also paid tribute to outgoing NDPP Advocate Shamila Batohi, thanking her for her service and contribution to the NPA during a challenging period marked by institutional rebuilding and high-profile prosecutions.
“The President wishes Advocate Batohi well in her future endeavours,” the statement said.
The appointment of Mothibi to the NPA creates a vacancy at the helm of the SIU. To ensure continuity, Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Leonard Lekgetho as Acting Head of the Special Investigating Unit, also with effect from February 1, 2026, under Section 3(1)(b) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act.
Lekgetho currently serves as the SIU’s Chief Operations Officer and has more than 22 years of experience in forensic investigations. His background includes service as a forensic investigator at the former Directorate of Special Operations, commonly known as the Scorpions, which played a prominent role in complex criminal and corruption cases in the early 2000s.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa had expressed appreciation to members of the advisory panel for executing their mandate “judiciously” and providing candid advice, even where it resulted in an outcome that required the President to make a direct appointment.
Mothibi’s elevation to the NDPP role is expected to draw close scrutiny, with civil society groups and legal observers closely watching how he steers the NPA, particularly in politically sensitive prosecutions and long-running corruption cases.
As South Africa continues to grapple with public confidence in the criminal justice system, the new NDPP’s leadership will be critical in shaping the credibility, independence, and effectiveness of prosecutions in the years ahead.
, following an unprecedented advisory panel process that concluded none of the shortlisted candidates were suitable for the powerful prosecutorial role.){kind=link}