JOHANNESBURG — President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Lekgoa (Andy) Mothibi, the current head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP)—a decisive intervention following months of turbulence inside the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The appointment, effective 1 February 2026, comes after an extraordinary outcome in which an independent advisory panel concluded that none of the shortlisted candidates for the post were suitable. Mothibi succeeds Advocate Shamila Batohi, who retires at the end of January after a deeply controversial final chapter in office.
Panel Rejects All Candidates, President Acts
The advisory panel—led by Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and comprising senior constitutional office-bearers—interviewed six candidates in December 2025:
- Adv. Hermione Cronje
- Adv. Menzi Simelane
- Adv. Andrea Johnson
- Adv. Nicolette Bell
- Adv. Adrian Mopp
- Adv. Xolisile Khanyile
In its report, submitted on 12 December 2025, the panel advised President Ramaphosa that none were suitable to lead the prosecutions authority.
Faced with a constitutional obligation to fill the post, Ramaphosa exercised his powers under Section 179(1)(a) of the Constitution and Section 10 of the NPA Act, appointing Mothibi directly—despite him not being part of the interview process.
Legal commentators and analysts have since pointed out that the Constitution vests the final appointment power squarely with the President, irrespective of panel recommendations.
Batohi’s Turbulent Exit and Commission Fallout
Mothibi’s appointment follows a damaging period for the NPA under outgoing NDPP Shamila Batohi, whose final months were overshadowed by high-stakes inquiries and public concern over prosecutorial integrity.
Batohi’s testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry—probing explosive allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi—sparked widespread criticism. Her appearance became the subject of NOWinSA viral X post as shown below, alleging she attempted to leave the inquiry during a lunch break before being called back by her legal team.
Her conduct at the commission, coupled with earlier parliamentary testimony acknowledging that the NPA remained vulnerable to criminal compromise, reinforced perceptions of an institution under siege.
NOWinSA has extensively reported on the broader implications of the inquiry, including:
- Ramaphosa announcing a Commission of Inquiry into the syndicate claims
- The President backing immediate criminal prosecutions
Why Mothibi? Track Record Speaks
Mothibi arrives at the NPA with a reputation forged in complex forensic investigations and asset recovery—most notably his leadership of the SIU’s probe into the R2.1 billion Tembisa Hospital corruption scandal, first exposed by murdered whistleblower Babita Deokaran.
Under Mothibi, the SIU uncovered what it described as a “complex web of fraud”, with the Hangwani Morgan Maumela syndicate identified as the largest beneficiary.
Key findings include:
- R816 million siphoned through 41 suppliers
- Hundreds of sub-R500,000 contracts used to bypass tender controls
- Payments for medical supplies never delivered
- A R900 million asset preservation order, including luxury properties in Sandhurst, Bantry Bay and Hartbeespoort
- Seizure of high-end vehicles, including Lamborghinis and Porsches
Security strategist Andy Mashaile, speaking to SABC News, welcomed the appointment:
“His strategic and analytical mind will add serious value to the NPA. His performance at the SIU speaks volumes—he doesn’t need to say anything.”
Profile: Advocate Andy Mothibi
- Current role: Head of the SIU (since 2016)
- Early career: Public prosecutor; magistrate in Johannesburg and Soweto
- Public service: Former head of Corporate Legal Services and Governance at SARS
- Private sector: Senior legal, compliance and risk roles at Nedbank, Standard Bank and SAA
His appointment leaves a vacancy at the SIU, with Leonard Lekgetho, the unit’s Chief Operations Officer and a former Scorpions investigator, appointed Acting Head from 1 February 2026.
Task Ahead: Restoring Confidence and Delivering Results
Mothibi inherits an NPA with a budget nearing R5 billion and more than 4,500 staff, but also one facing unprecedented scrutiny. His immediate priorities include:
- Rebuilding internal morale and integrity
- Accelerating stalled high-profile corruption prosecutions
- Shielding the NPA from political interference
- Translating commission findings into courtroom outcomes
Veteran broadcaster Tim Modise captured the national mood:
“One of Hammanskraal’s finest. Well done at the SIU, and Godspeed at the NPA. We hope you receive the support you need—and the confidence of South Africans.”
As Mothibi transitions from investigator to chief prosecutor, expectations are stark. His mandate is nothing less than to turn the NPA from a symbol of paralysis into a credible engine of accountability.
