Ramaphosa defends appointing Andy Mothibi to head NPA amid widespread pushback

President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the appointment of Andy Mothibi as head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), despite him not being among the candidates interviewed for the position.

Six candidates were interviewed by an advisory panel appointed by the president to identify the most suitable person for the role.

However, the panel advised that none of the candidates met the required standard, prompting Ramaphosa to appoint Mothibi.

Mothibi, who currently heads the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), is set to assume his role as the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) next month.

Ramaphosa spoke about the changing NPA leadership on the sidelines of the African National Congress (ANC)’s birthday celebrations in the North West on Wednesday.

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Some opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have criticised the manner in which Mothibi was appointed as the NDPP.

The EFF has questioned why Mothibi was chosen despite not being among the interviewed candidates.

The party said this raises concerns about what it calls the executive’s dictatorship, saying the purpose of the public interviews was to ensure transparency.

But Ramaphosa said when the advisory panel informed him that none of the candidates were suitable, he decided to exercise his constitutional prerogative in making the appointment.

“In future, we would want the law or the Constitution to be amended to allow a more open process. We don’t have it now and it was instituted at my volition. When it didn’t yield the results that I expected, I had to rely on what the Constitution empowers me to do."

While the EFF is unhappy with the way Mothibi was given the job, it has not necessarily objected to his appointment.