President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head Andy Mothibi as South Africa’s next National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), with his term set to begin in February 2026.
Mothibi will take over from outgoing NDPP Shamila Batohi who retires at the end of January after completing her term.
His appointment places him at the helm of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a position central to directing all public prosecutions and long associated with political pressure, leadership instability and battles over state capture‑related cases.
The NDPP role has been one of the most contested in South Africa’s democratic era.
The past decade saw the departures of Mxolisi Nxasana, Shaun Abrahams and Nomgcobo Jiba amid legal disputes, allegations of political interference and court findings that appointments were unlawful.
Batohi’s tenure, while more stable, was marked by public frustration over the slow pace of high‑profile corruption prosecutions.
Announcing the appointment on Tuesday, the Presidency highlighted Mothibi’s prosecutorial background and extensive experience in legal, compliance and governance roles.
He previously served as a prosecutor and magistrate in Johannesburg and Soweto, and later held senior positions at the South African Revenue Service, including Head of Corporate Legal Services and Head of Governance.
Ramaphosa selected Mothibi after receiving a report from a six‑member advisory panel chaired by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.
The panel interviewed six candidates from a pool of 32 applicants but recommended none as suitable.
Mothibi’s move to the NPA will create a vacancy at the SIU. Leonard Lekgetho, currently the unit’s Chief Operations Officer, is expected to serve as Acting Head from February.
JN/APA