- President Ramaphosa waited two months to act on appointing a new NDPP, delaying the NPA’s restoration.
- The selection panel has no criminal justice or prosecutorial expertise.
- Most panel members focus on human rights and governance, with little relevance to rebuilding the NPA.
The Democratic Alliance notes with concern the composition of the selection panel chosen by the President, which is tasked with making nominations for the selection of the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
Despite the DA’s urgent call on the 17th of July 2025 to begin the process to appoint an NDPP, the President has waited a full two months before acting. In addition to the 100-day time limit, the President’s selection panel raises concerns.
To solve this crisis of his own making, the President has appointed a panel without the necessary expertise to find a suitable candidate. The National Prosecuting Authority has all but collapsed and is in dire need of leadership. The new NDPP will have to play an integral role in rebuilding it.
Shockingly, the panel is completely devoid of criminal justice legal experts. Not a single member of the judiciary or criminal prosecution is included. How can a panel devoid of any prosecutorial expertise nominate candidates for the most important prosecutorial position in South Africa?
The President’s panel includes the Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, the Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality, the Auditor-General of South Africa, the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, a representative of the Black Lawyers Association and a representative of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.
The Black Lawyer’s Association is focused only on the transformation of the legal profession. The National Association of Democratic Lawyers, in turn, only renders legal assistance in human rights matters. The Commission for Gender Equality aims to promote gender equality.
The South African Human Rights Commission’s focus is solely on the protection of human rights. The Public Service Commission are better placed to give our President some pointers on good governance than they are in selecting an NDPP.
It is unclear what contributions of value these bodies will be able to make in the selection process, if any. The President must ensure the best candidate is selected to properly lead the NPA out of its crisis.
President Ramaphosa’s delays, coupled with his questionable appointments to the panel, again prove that our country’s leader has no desire to fix the destruction of the criminal justice system orchestrated by his predecessor.
Nearly eight years have passed since he assumed office, and the NPA remains gutted by state capture. A state of affairs orchestrated to favour the majority party.