Statement on establishment of NDPP appointment panel

14 October 2018

President Cyril Ramaphosa has invited a number of legal organisations and independent public institutions to assist him in identifying and selecting individuals for consideration as possible candidates for the position of National Director of Public Prosecutions. 

The panel will be chaired by Minister Jeff Radebe and will be requested to identify potential candidates, establish that they meet the required criteria, conduct interviews with potential candidates and recommend at least three candidates to the President. 

While the panel will make recommendations, the Constitution prescribes that it is ultimately only the President who can decide who to appoint as NDPP. This the President will do after consultation with Minister Michael Masutha. 

The organisations that have been invited to provide a representative are:

- General Council of the Bar of South Africa

- Law Society of South Africa

- Black Lawyers Association

- National Association of Democratic Lawyers

- Advocates for Transformation

- Auditor-General of South Africa

- South African Human Rights Commission 

The panel will be tasked to complete its work and make recommendations to the President to enable him to meet the deadline set by the Constitutional Court to appoint a new NDPP within 90 court days of 13 August 2018.

Statement issued by Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President, The Presidency, 13 October 2018