Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), with effect from 1 February 2026, following an advisory panel process that found none of the shortlisted candidates suitable for the role.
The appointment was announced by The Presidency on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. In terms of the Constitution and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act, the President is responsible for appointing the NDPP, a position regarded as critical to the country’s criminal justice system.
To guide the process, Ramaphosa established an advisory panel led by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi. The panel included senior figures from constitutional institutions and the legal profession, among them South African Human Rights Commission chairperson Andrew Nissen, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke, Public Service Commission chairperson Prof Somadoda Fikeni, and the presidents of the Black Lawyers Association and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.
Out of 32 applicants, the panel shortlisted six candidates for interviews. However, after concluding its work, the panel submitted a report to the President on 12 December 2025 advising that “none of the interviewed candidates were suitable for the role of NDPP”.
Despite this recommendation, Ramaphosa proceeded to appoint Adv Mothibi in line with section 179(1)(a) of the Constitution, read with section 10 of the NPA Act.
🚨 NEW APPOINTMENT | NDPP
President Ramaphosa has appointed Adv. Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions, effective 1 February 2026.
This follows a transparent advisory panel process. Adv. Mothibi, currently Head of the SIU, brings extensive… pic.twitter.com/BVGEGIL9oD
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) January 6, 2026
Adv Mothibi currently serves as the head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). He began his career as a public prosecutor in the Johannesburg and Soweto magistrates’ and regional courts and later served as a magistrate in the same jurisdictions. His career spans both the public and private sectors, including senior roles at the South African Revenue Service, where he was head of corporate legal services and head of governance.
In the statement, Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for the outgoing NDPP, Advocate Shamila Batohi. “President Ramaphosa has thanked Advocate Shamila Batohi for her service and contribution to the country’s prosecutions agency and wishes Advocate Batohi well in her future endeavours,” The Presidency said.
The President also acknowledged the work of the advisory panel, saying he “extends his gratitude to the members of the panel for their counsel and for carrying their task judiciously”.
Adv Mothibi’s appointment creates a vacancy at the SIU. To address this, Ramaphosa has appointed Leonard Lekgetho as acting head of the SIU with effect from 1 February 2026, in line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act.
Lekgetho is currently the SIU’s chief operations officer and brings more than 22 years of forensic investigation experience. He previously served as a forensic investigator at the Directorate of Special Operations, commonly known as the Scorpions.
The Presidency said further details regarding the transition would be communicated in due course.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
