Outgoing NPA head Shamila Batohi 'transformed & repositioned NPA' - Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the criticism levelled against outgoing National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shamila Batohi is unfair, saying she led the institution during a particularly challenging political period.

Batohi’s tenure as the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) is set to end this month.

Ramaphosa recently announced that Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head Andy Mothibi will succeed Batohi, starting on the first of next month.

The president commented on the NPA’s leadership changes on the sidelines of the ANC’s 114th birthday celebrations in the North West.

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When Batohi took office in 2019, one of her main priorities was to tackle corruption linked to State capture.

Some critics argue that she struggled to prosecute State capture suspects and claim that criminal infiltration increased during her tenure.

Ramaphosa, however, does not believe Batohi failed in her duties, noting that the past few years have been challenging for anyone in public office.

“Shamila Batohi came in at a time when the NPA was in serious need of transformation, and she has done really excellently in transforming and repositioning the NPA.”

The Econonmic Freedom Fighters (EFF) claims Batohi’s performance at the Nkabinde Commission of Inquiry reflects incompetence.

But Ramaphosa believes the criticism directed at her is unfair.