NPA candidate interview: Cronje alleges former bosses appointed loyalists

Advocate Hermione Cronje, a candidate for the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) role, has told an interviewing panel that former prosecutions bosses appointed people loyal to their faction.

Cronjé is one of six candidates vying for the top job at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The successful candidate will begin their work in February when Shamila Batohi’s term as the current NPA head comes to an end next month.

One of the questions asked by the panellists to each candidate is whether they are aware of any capture within the NPA.

READ: NPA skills crisis: Cronje warns of 'catastrophe' in prosecutions

When Advocate Hermione Cronjé was asked this question, she recalled being part of interviews for junior state advocate positions. She noted that senior officials, including former NPA head Advocate Menzi Simelane and Advocate Nomgcobo Jiba, were present.

She recounted her experience: "Advocate Jiba was also there and I couldn't understand the purpose of this, but as the interviews unfolded, it was very clear to me that the purpose was to appoint people loyal to what they considered to be their faction and not people loyal to what they considered to be the other faction which was the Willy Hofmeyr faction."

When asked if she believes the NPA is currently captured, Cronjé stated that it is inevitable that there will be attempts to capture the NPA.

She added that the NPA will never be free from allegations of capture because its actions affect people’s lives.