Ramaphosa defends Andy Mothibi’s appointment as new NDPP

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking at an event.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended his decision to appoint Andy Mothibi as the next National Director of Public Prosecutions. The appointment will take effect on February 1, as the tenure of the current head, Shamila Batohi, comes to an end.

Ramaphosa has appointed Mothibi despite the Advisory Panel, which interviewed six candidates for the position, indicating in its report that none was suitable.

He is adamant that Mothibi has distinguished himself as an outstanding head of the Special Investigating Unit.

Ramaphosa was speaking at an ANC fundraising golf tournament in Rustenburg to celebrate the party’s 114th anniversary.

“I instituted this process of having a very transparent and open manner in which a public official, like the head of NPA, should be appointed. The last time when Shamila Batohi was appointed, I opened up a process which many people welcomed, it’s not in the law. The law says the President can appoint whomever he wants. But I felt that because of the importance of the position, we should open it up to the public. The second time around to replace Shamila who is retiring, I did the same thing and there were 18 or so applications and the advisory panel tells me that none of those that were shortlisted really could be appointed as the head of the NPA. So, in the end because of the shortness of time, I then relied on what the Constitution empowers me as President to do, and it is for that reason I decided to appoint Mothibi.”

WATCH | President Cyril Ramaphosa says his decision to appoint Advocate Andy Mothibi as National Director of Public Prosecutions was driven by time constraints, stressing that he exercised his constitutional prerogative as head of state. pic.twitter.com/VheeB4CAYn

— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 7, 2026

Ramaphosa says Batohi has done a good job in transforming the NPA.

WATCH | President Ramaphosa praises outgoing NDPP Shamila Batohi for “an excellent job” in transforming the NPA, saying she shouldn’t be criticised as she hands over to Andy Mothibi. pic.twitter.com/p6BxB3sVb6

— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 7, 2026