When corruption scandals like state capture have eroded public trust in institutions, the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) is more than a bureaucratic shuffle. It becomes a litmus test for justice.
South Africa’s top prosecutor job is about to open: Shamila Batohi retires in January, and a presidential advisory panel has shortlisted six candidates from 32 applicants and nominations.
The names include familiar faces from the Investigating Directorate, senior provincial prosecutors, and one very controversial former NDPP, Menzi Simelane. The panel has invited public comment until Friday, with interviews expected around 10–11 December.
Batohi’s successor will set the tone for an NPA under scrutiny: Can it deliver accountability “without fear, favour, or prejudice,” as mandated by the Constitution?
What is the NDPP, and what do they actually do?
The NDPP is essentially South Africa’s top prosecutor, the person responsible for ensuring that criminal cases are prosecuted fairly, effectively, and without political interference.
The NDPP leads the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), overseeing prosecutions nationwide, from everyday crimes to high-stakes cases involving organised crime, fraud, and political graft.
Outgoing NDPP Shamila Batohi retires at the end of January next year, after a six-year stint marked by progress in anti-corruption efforts but also by persistent backlogs, internal tensions, and criticism over selective prosecutions. Batohi’s retirement is looming, due to the 65-year age limit in the NPA Act.
The shortlist: meet the contenders
Four women and two men made the cut, offering a blend of NPA insiders with external experts.
Here’s who they are, and why their names matter. (Note: One stands out for controversy.)
Andrea Johnson: Current head of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption
Who is she?
Johnson is the current head of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC): the NPA’s specialised unit tackling high-level corruption, organised crime and government graft, including probing state capture.
She’s been a prosecutor since the 1990s, climbing the ranks from junior state advocate to national coordinator for organised crime, deputy director of public prosecutions, and acting special director of public prosecutions. In 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa picked her to succeed Hermione Cronje at IDAC.
Johnson is a Scorpions alum (remember that elite anti-corruption squad from the 2000s that got axed amid politics and corruption claims under the Zuma presidency).
Why her?
Johnson’s got serious street cred in building rock-solid cases on fraud, money laundering, and organised crime.
You may know her name from a number of high-profile matters, including Former National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s bribery case, mining magnate Brett Kebble’s fraud case, and the Oscar Pistorius murder trial.
She’s the most seasoned in active anti-corruption work, potentially ideal for turbocharging stalled Zondo Commission referrals.
However… Johnson has recently faced heavy criticism over her management of IDAC after a fiery ad hoc parliamentary hearing on 6 November, unpacking allegations of police interference and corruption.
KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused the unit of acting like a ‘rogue’ outfit and running witch-hunts against certain police officers, namely the arrest of Crime Intelligence head at the time, Dumisani Khumalo, who saw the whole thing as “retaliation”.
Johnson stood her ground, insisting everything concerning the June arrests of Khumalo was above board.
Hermione Cronje: Previously head of the Investigating Directorate; now an international anti-corruption and asset-recovery specialist
Who is she?
Cronje, a former advocate at the Cape Bar, launched the NPA’s Investigating Directorate in 2019 as its inaugural head, spearheading state capture probes.
Her career spans a founding member of the Asset Forfeiture Unit (later beefed up into the IDAC under Andrea Johnson), senior state advocate roles, and parliamentary research. She now works as a freelance anti-corruption consultant, advising the EU’s Ukraine initiative and South African NGOs like Open Secrets.
Why her?
Bold against power, with expertise in recovering looted funds globally—perfect for an NPA eyeing international cooperation. Cronje’s exit from the ID in 2021 wasn’t quiet—it spotlighted deep rifts with NDPP Shamila Batohi over strategy, resources, and who calls the shots on Zondo cases, but some see it as proof she shakes things up.
Menzi Simelane: Former NDPP
Who is he?
Appointed NDPP in 2009 by Jacob Zuma, he oversaw the NPA during a turbulent era of state capture allegations, but his three-year tenure ended in scandal when the Constitutional Court invalidated it in 2012.
Since his 2012 ousting as NDPP, Simelane has quietly rebuilt a private practice as an advocate with the Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA), handling civil and commercial cases while dodging the spotlight, until now.
Just weeks before applying for the NDPP job, the JSA launched a court bid to strike him off the advocates’ roll entirely, making him ineligible to practice law. Why? They’re dragging up the 2007 Ginwala Commission’s bombshell findings from the probe into former NDPP Vusi Pikoli’s firing (which Simelane helped orchestrate). Simelane was caught lying under oath about key evidence, like withholding letters showing political meddling in NPA independence, and contradicting himself repeatedly, painting him as dishonest, lacking integrity, and unfit for high office. This is the exact baggage that got his 2009 NDPP appointment axed as “irrational” by the Constitutional Court in 2012, as Zuma ignored those red flags.
What does a strike-off mean? It’s a career killer: Total ban from practising as an advocate, no more court appearances or legal gigs, and a massive stain on his “fit and proper” status, crucial for NDPP eligibility.
Why him?
Supporters cite his executive experience, but his 2012 Constitutional Court ousting (ruled “irrational” for ignoring Ginwala’s dishonesty findings) looms large. The DA demands his removal, linking him to state capture and unfit integrity.
Nicolette Bell: Director of Public Prosecutions, Western Cape
Who is she?
Bell is the current Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the first woman to occupy the position, having risen from public prosecutor in Krugersdorp to deputy and senior state advocate in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Why her?
Seen as a “good manager” with staff loyalty and a solid prosecutorial record, she’s efficient in victim-focused, complex cases.
In the Western Cape, she’s led charges against gang violence, gender-based crimes, and complex frauds, like her high-profile role in the Joshlin Smith kidnapping sentencing in Saldanha Bay, where she pushed for justice in a case that gripped the nation.
Bell flies under the radar with few scandals. She, however, lacks national deputy NDPP experience, and her leadership is untested.
Adrian Mopp: Deputy-level prosecutor in the Western Cape (special operations / organised crime experience)
Who is he?
Mopp is deputy DPP in the Western Cape under Bell, with roots as a police detective in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and a candidate attorney. He’s led special operations, asset forfeiture, and organised crime probes, plus chaired tax and bid tribunals. Over the years, he’s stacked up senior roles: Regional Head and Deputy Regional Head for Special Operations in the Western Cape, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Asset Forfeiture Unit, Senior State Advocate in the Investigating Directorate for organised crime and at the Office of the Auditor-General, and Public Prosecutor in Kimberley and Makhanda.
Why him?
A hard-working “technocrat” with innovative tools like digital evidence, he’s primed for NPA’s tech-forward anti-crime push. But his focus up until now has been primarily regionally focused, so there are concerns that shifting to a national strategy might stretch him.
Mopp keeps a low profile, with no major scandals or firestorms like Simelane’s, but he’s not spotless. His involvement in the high-profile 2014 Shrien Dewani murder trial (the honeymoon killer extradited from the UK) drew flak when the accused was discharged mid-trial due to insufficient evidence, with critics slamming the NPA’s prep as sloppy and wasting millions on the extradition saga.
Xolisile Jennifer Khanyile: Current chair of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime
Who is she?
Khanyile chairs the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime as well as the United for Wildlife Financial Taskforce. Khanyile formerly directed the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), aiding South Africa’s Financial Action Task Force grey-list exit, a major deal this year.
Why her?
Khanyile’s a powerhouse on financial sleuthing; her FIC gig was key to yanking South Africa off the FATF grey list. And as far as we can tell, Khanyile’s got a squeaky-clean rep.
How the appointment process works
President Ramaphosa established an advisory panel to run an open selection process: the panel invited nominations, screened applicants, and identified six who met the panel’s minimum requirements (although whether Simelane is “fit and proper” is still up for debate ). The panel will interview candidates and then recommend three names to the President for final consideration.
The panel aims to be transparent, but its composition and expertise have already been questioned by critics.
Read more about the controversy surrounding the selection panel here.
Because the process is public, the advisory panel has asked for submissions. Civil-society groups, legal experts, or ordinary citizens with relevant information on professional history, or who simply have concerns about integrity, can send a submission before Friday. The panel must consider public input when vetting candidates, so this is one of the clearest opportunities to influence the outcome.
So why does this matter?
The shortlist offers capable insiders, seasoned reformers, and (controversially) a former NDPP once deemed unfit for office. It’s a spectrum that reflects both the NPA’s depth of talent and the seriousness of its internal fractures.
Whoever becomes NDPP will inherit an overstretched NPA, political pressure from all sides, and a public desperate for accountability after years of state capture, crime spikes, and corruption fatigue.
Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation.
