Former acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe has denied receiving political instructions to remove prosecutor Anton Ackermann from Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases. Testifying at the Khampepe Commission on 7 April 2026, he described a rift over plans to arrest officials linked to the 1981 attempted poisoning of Frank Chikane. Mpshe noted that Ackermann was correct in hindsight, given the political context.
Mokotedi Mpshe, who acted as National Director of Public Prosecutions from 2007 to 2009, told the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into alleged political interference in TRC prosecutions that he did not act on political orders regarding Ackermann. The Priority Crimes Litigation Unit head had pushed for arrests of then law and order minister Adriaan Vlok, police commissioner Johann van der Merwe, and security branch officers over Chikane's poisoning.
A 2004 moratorium on TRC cases followed, amid complaints from Chikane, then director-general in Thabo Mbeki's office. Chikane wrote to the NPA that Ackermann argued acrimoniously with him, showing opposition to government guidelines on post-TRC processes, and seemed focused on prosecution rather than management.
Mpshe rejected Ackermann's claim of removal soon after his appointment, stating his TRC role was limited and handled by Dr Silas Ramaite. Ramaite testified that justice minister Bridget Mabandla informed him of the Amnesty Task Team in 2004, involving NPA, Justice, NIA, SAPS and SANDF officials, directing prosecutors to await its mandate.
Earlier witnesses, including Menzi Simelane, described politically charged discussions in the task team forum, influenced by former Umkhonto weSizwe members. Ackermann alleged Jackie Selebi spread false claims of impending arrests of ANC leaders.
