Andy Mothibi, o recém-nomeado Diretor Nacional de Promotores Públicos, delineou planos para tornar a Autoridade Nacional de Promotores da África do Sul totalmente independente da supervisão política. Durante sua primeira coletiva de imprensa em Pretória no dia 12 de março, anunciou um projeto de emenda à Lei da NPA para apresentação no Parlamento no próximo ano financeiro.
Andy Mothibi assumiu o cargo de chefe da Autoridade Nacional de Promotores Públicos (NPA) há dois meses, sucedendo Shamila Batohi, que deixou o cargo em janeiro. Em sua primeira coletiva de imprensa realizada em Pretória no dia 12 de março, Mothibi enfatizou a necessidade de independência operacional e financeira para proteger a NPA de interferências políticas, um objetivo perseguido desde sua criação em 1998. He revealed ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, which have pledged support for legislative reforms. 'I have been in discussions with the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development on this subject, and I am pleased to say that the ministry and department are fully supportive and have committed to drive the legislative reform process,' Mothibi stated. The proposed amendment to the NPA Act would establish the NPA as its own entity with an independent accounting officer, granting control over budgets, salaries, hiring, and administration—powers currently held by the Department of Justice. Experts view this as achievable. Dr Jean Redpath from the University of the Western Cape’s Dullah Omar Institute described the legislation as 'critically important,' noting support from new Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and a changed departmental leadership. Lawson Naidoo of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution estimated the process might take two years, aligning with Mothibi's term, though success depends on Parliament. Mothibi, aged 63 and required to retire at 65 despite the NDPP's intended 10-year term, spent his first month conducting a situational analysis of staff, processes, and systems. He addressed challenges in State Capture prosecutions, where the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption handles 134 recommendations but has finalized only three cases, including the seven-year sentence for former ANC MP Vincent Smith in the Bosasa matter. Mothibi committed to more convictions in such cases. Other priorities include filling four deputy positions and other vacancies to bolster expertise in complex prosecutions, alongside implementing the NPA’s Strategy Against Organised Crime finalized in August 2024. This targets syndicates, money-laundering, and enablers like accountants and lawyers. 'I am satisfied that [in] two years, if we execute and implement the annual performance plans as we have planned, we are going to see a positive difference,' he said. Batohi had inherited an NPA recovering from State Capture-era corruption, facing capacity issues that Mothibi now aims to address.
