National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi told Parliament on 11 November 2025 that South Africa is losing the battle against organized crime, likening the situation to watching criminals take over in slow motion. She highlighted infiltration attempts into the National Prosecuting Authority and police, while refusing to name a suspected prosecutor. The testimony came before an ad hoc committee investigating a drug trafficking cartel's alleged influence in politics and justice institutions.
Shamila Batohi, South Africa's National Director of Public Prosecutions, testified before Parliament's ad hoc committee on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, amid probes into a drug trafficking cartel's infiltration of politics, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Batohi painted a grim picture, stating: “Our crime is ravaging our country, and it seems like we are watching this movie in front of us in slow motion, and those of us in power that should be doing something about it are powerless to do anything about it… that the criminals are taking over our country, organised criminals.” She emphasized that despite hardworking prosecutors, the environment breeds distrust, with concerted attempts to compromise NPA members and undermine the rule of law.
The committee, sparked by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's earlier accusations, heard Batohi confirm intelligence about infiltration. She revealed that former Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola informed her of a specific NPA member allegedly involved in organized criminality, referring the matter to the NPA’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). Batohi refused to name the individual, citing an ongoing investigation, despite pressure from MPs including EFF leader Julius Malema, who referenced IDAC head Andrea Johnson's comments on avoiding 'pillow talk'.
Batohi noted systemic issues: the Hawks operating at 50% capacity, as per former head Godfrey Lebeya, and the need for clean Crime Intelligence. She stressed following money trails and solid intelligence for prosecutions, but admitted, “The reality is that we are not winning the fight against organised crime in this country.”
On high-profile cases, Batohi discussed authorizing racketeering prosecutions and the suspension of Gauteng Director Andrew Chauke, with an inquiry into his fitness starting Monday. Regarding the Gupta brothers, wanted for State Capture crimes, she said a new extradition request from the UAE would be made soon, before her retirement in January 2026.
Batohi, who assumed office in 2019 post-State Capture era, highlighted NPA rebuilding efforts but called for institutional reforms to consolidate the rule of law. The committee plans to hear from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's chief of staff Cedrick Nkabinde on Thursday.