Pretoria – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Special Investigating Unit head Advocate Andy Mothibi as the next National Director of Public Prosecutions, placing him in charge of the National Prosecuting Authority from February 2026.
The appointment was announced on Tuesday by the Presidency in Pretoria. Mothibi, a career legal practitioner, started out as a public prosecutor in the Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrates and Regional Courts before later serving as a magistrate in the same courts. His career later expanded into senior management roles across the public and private sectors, overseeing legal, compliance and risk management functions, including at the South African Revenue Service where he served as head of corporate legal services and head of governance.
President Ramaphosa’s decision follows a recruitment process overseen by a six member advisory panel led by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi. The panel interviewed six candidates from a total of 32 applicants for the position.
After completing its work, the panel submitted its report to the President on December 12, 2025, advising that none of the interviewed candidates met the requirements for appointment as National Director of Public Prosecutions. Acting under section 179 of the Constitution of South Africa, read together with section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998, President Ramaphosa proceeded to appoint Mothibi. The Presidency said the President conveyed appreciation to the panel members for their guidance and the manner in which they carried out their task.
Mothibi’s move to the NPA will create a vacancy at the Special Investigating Unit. Leonard Lekgetho, currently the SIU chief operations officer, has been identified to serve as acting head from February. Lekgetho brings more than 22 years of forensic investigation experience, including time as a forensic investigator at the former Directorate of Special Operations, commonly known as the Scorpions.
The change at the top of the NPA comes as current National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi prepares to retire later this month after completing a full term. President Ramaphosa has thanked Batohi for her service to South Africa’s prosecuting authority and wished her well.
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