Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants to access the report President Cyril Ramaphosa used to inform his decision before he appointed the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
The DA has announced that it has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to access the report submitted by the Advisory Panel, which recommended that none of the six candidates it interviewed were suitable for the NDPP position.
In a statement made available to The Burushes on Sunday, 11 January 2026, the DA said: “While the DA has cautiously welcomed the appointment of Advocate Andy Mothibi and expressed hope that it will stabilise and strengthen the National Prosecuting Authority, serious concerns remain about the deeply flawed appointment process and the President’s handling thereof”.
The DA said the Presidency confirmed that it will not make the NDPP panel report public, claiming it was intended only to guide the President and that there is no obligation to release it.
“This position undermines transparency in a process that was already marred by delays, an ill-equipped panel, and a failure to properly discharge its mandate,” said Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, MP, and
DA Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development.
“The President cannot exercise such sweeping constitutional powers behind a veil of secrecy.
“This report goes to the heart of whether the NDPP appointment process was lawful, rational, and fair. South Africans are entitled to see it.”
