Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
The appointment of Advocate Lekgoa is effective from 1 February 2026, a day after the seven-year tenure of the incumbent Shamila Batohi ends.
The Presidency said President Cyril Ramaphosa made the appointment in terms of section 179(1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, read with section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act 32 of 1998
Advocate. Mothibi, who is currently the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), began his career as a Public Prosecutor in the Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrate’s and Regional Courts.
He also served as a Magistrate in the Johannesburg and Soweto Magistrate’s Courts.
Advocate Mothibi has previously served in various public and private sector roles managing legal, compliance, and risk management operations, including at SARS as Head of Corporate Legal Services and Head of Governance.
“President Ramaphosa has thanked Advocate Shamila Batohi for her service and contribution to the country’s prosecutions agency and wishes Advocate Batohi well in her future endeavours,” the Presidency said.
“President Ramaphosa extends his gratitude to the members of the panel for their counsel and for carrying out their task judiciously.“
The appointment of Advocate Mothibi as the NDPP leaves a vacancy at the Special Investigating Unit.
President Ramaphosa has appointed Leonard Lekgetho as the Acting Head of the SIU, with effect from 1 February 2026.
The appointment is in line with Section 3(1) (b) of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996).
Lekgetho is currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer of the SIU.
He has over 22 years of forensic investigations experience, including serving as the Forensic Investigator at the then Directorate of Special Operations, which was known as the Scorpions.
Due to the importance of the position in the criminal justice system, President Ramaphosa set up an advisory panel for the selection of the NDPP (“panel”), which conducted an open and transparent selection process.
The panel, which was led by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, included;
• Andrew Christoffel Nissen, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission
• Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale, Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality
• Tsakani Maluleke, Auditor-General of South Africa
• Professor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission
• Nkosana Mvundlela, President of the Black Lawyers Association
• Machini Motloung, President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers
The panel selected six candidates for interviews out of 32 applicants.
The Panel concluded its process and submitted its report to the President on 12 December 2025.
However, in its report, the panel advised the President that none of the interviewed candidates were suitable for the role of NDPP.
