NPA's Batohi defiant as MPs call for her head over botched Omotoso trial
As political parties on Friday called for her head over the bungling of the Timothy Omotoso sex crimes trial, Batohi said she would only step down if she believed that overall, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was failing.
FILE: NPA head, Shamila Batohi, appeared before Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) in Cape Town on 20 November 2024. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
CAPE TOWN - The national director of public prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, said that she won't be quitting her job after facing what was one of her toughest days in Parliament since her appointment six years ago.
As political parties on Friday called for her head over the bungling of the Timothy Omotoso sex crimes trial, Batohi said she would only step down if she believed that overall, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was failing.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said it would be writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa to start proceedings to determine Batohi’s fitness to hold office, while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) labelled her as arrogant and incapable of recognising her failures.
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Batohi is the first woman to head the NPA and also the one having served the longest in the position.
But opposition parties in Parliament are baying for her removal, saying her legacy was one of failed prosecutions, and an unwillingness to take on cases they viewed to be in the national interest.
However, Batohi said she's not about to quit and she was satisfied with the work she's done to date to rescue the institution from the grips of state capture.
"I have no problem stepping down at all, and I would like to say I have that level of insight as to whether I can do this job or not, and whether I should be in this position or not."
Batohi instead used the platform to encourage her prosecutors to keep up the good work, and said by and large, NPA prosecutors were hardworking and determined to serve the public.
"I have no intention of stepping down, and the processes must take its course, but my commitment is to the people of this country and to keep fighting for justice until the last day."
MPs took a dim view of her responses, saying she was defensive and deflecting from the matter at hand.