Source: The Presidency
The advisory panel tasked with making recommendations on suitable candidates for the position of national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) has presented President Cyril Ramaphosa with the names of five candidates recommended for the position.
The final five are:
- Adv Shamila Batohi
- Adv Siyabulela Mapoma
- Adv Simphiwe Mlotshwa
- Adv Rodney de Kock
- Adv Andrea Johnson
The five nominees have been selected from 11 candidates who were interviewed – in the presence of media – at the Union Buildings in Pretoria from Wednesday 14 November 2018 to Friday 16 November.
In October 2018 Ramaphosa invited a number of legal organisations and independent public institutions to help him identify and select individuals for consideration as possible candidates for the position of NDPP. This invitation formed part of his effort to meet the deadline set by the Constitutional Court to appoint a new NDPP within 90 court days of 13 August.
The organisations and institutions invited to assist the president in this endeavour nominated senior legal practitioners to serve on the panel headed by energy minister Jeff Radebe.
The panel comprises:
- Mr Thembekile Kim Makwethu (Auditor-General of South Africa);
- Advocate Bongani Majola (South African Human Rights Commission);
- Adv Jaap Cilliers (General Council of the Bar of South Africa);
- Mr Richard Scott (Law Society of South Africa);
- Mr Lutendo Sigogo (Black Lawyers Association);
- Mr Lawrence Manye (Advocates for Transformation), and
- Mr Mvuzi Nyotesi (National Association of Democratic Lawyers).
On Wednesday 14 November 2018 the panel was informed of the withdrawal from the process by Adv Glynis Breytenbach.
The panel proceeded to interview:
- Adv Siyabulela Mapoma
- Adv Matodzi Makhari
- Adv Matric Luphondo
- Adv Khehla Andrew Chauke
- Adv Andrea Johnson
- Adv Rodney de Kock
- Adv Dinah Noko
- Adv Naome Manaka
- Adv Simphiwe Mlotshwa and
- Adv Shamila Batohi.
Radebe has expressed the appreciation of the panel to all interviewees for availing themselves to serve in a nationally critical role and to do so in a public, transparent process. He said the nomination of five candidates reflected the confidence of the panel that the position of NDPP would be filled by a fit and proper national director and reflected the depth of leadership capacity and legal excellence in South Africa’s legal sector.
Ramaphosa, who this week completed a three-nation working visit to the EU and is currently participating in an AU summit in Ethiopia, will study the recommendations of the panel and make an appointment within the timeline directed by the Constitutional Court.
