President Ramaphosa Appoints New National Director of Public Prosecutions

Pretoria, 6 January 2026 — President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), effective 1 February 2026.

In terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act, the President is mandated to appoint the NDPP. Given the strategic importance of the role within the criminal justice system, President Ramaphosa established an advisory panel to oversee an open and transparent selection process.

The panel, chaired by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Honourable Mmamoloko Kubayi, comprised senior leaders from key constitutional and legal institutions. These included Mr Andrew Christoffel Nissen, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Ms Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality, Ms Tsakani Maluleke, Auditor-General of South Africa, Professor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Mr Nkosana Mvundlela, President of the Black Lawyers Association, and Mr Machini Motloung, President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.

From a total of 32 applicants, the panel shortlisted six candidates for interviews. Upon concluding its work, the panel submitted its report to the President on 12 December 2025, advising that none of the interviewed candidates were suitable for appointment as NDPP.

Acting in accordance with section 179(1)(a) of the Constitution, read with section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998, President Ramaphosa subsequently exercised his constitutional prerogative to appoint Advocate Mothibi to the position.

Advocate Mothibi currently serves as Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). He began his legal career as a public prosecutor in the Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrates’ and Regional Courts and later served as a magistrate in the same jurisdictions. Over the years, he has held a range of senior roles in both the public and private sectors, including serving at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as Head of Corporate Legal Services and Head of Governance, where he managed legal, compliance, and risk functions.

The President expressed his appreciation to outgoing NDPP Advocate Shamila Batohi for her service and contribution to strengthening South Africa’s prosecutorial system, and wished her well in her future endeavours. He also extended his gratitude to the advisory panel for its diligence and principled execution of its mandate.

Following Advocate Mothibi’s appointment, a vacancy will arise at the SIU. To ensure continuity, President Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Leonard Lekgetho as Acting Head of the Special Investigating Unit, effective 1 February 2026, in terms of section 3(1)(b) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act of 1996.

Mr Lekgetho is currently the Chief Operations Officer of the SIU and brings more than 22 years of experience in forensic investigations. His career includes service as a forensic investigator at the former Directorate of Special Operations, widely known as the Scorpions.

The appointments signal the President’s continued focus on institutional stability, accountability, and the effective functioning of South Africa’s criminal justice system.