These are the six people vying for one of South Africa’s most important jobs

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) has released the resumés of the six candidates applying to replace Shamila Batohi as the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). 

The NDPP is the head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and is responsible for ensuring that criminal prosecutions are conducted without fear, favour, or prejudice.

The NDPP’s role is critical because the NPA was severely weakened by years of political interference, including the 2009 disbanding of the Scorpions, its most effective anti-corruption unit.

This has left the institution vulnerable and eroded its ability to independently pursue high-level corruption.

Batohi had promised that her term would be focused on rebuilding the capacity of the NPA.

The current NDPP is reaching the end of her term at the age of 65, and as such, has become the first NDPP to leave without being removed.

All previous NDPPs have been removed before finishing their term. 

The Zondo Commission investigating state capture and corruption in the public sector in 2018 found that the National Prosecuting Authority was the principal law enforcement agency that was captured. 

The commission recommended changes to the appointment of the NDPP for greater transparency and consultation. 

However, according to a letter sent to the President from the Civil Society Working Group on State Capture (CSWG), these recommendations have not been followed. 

The coalition of civil society organisations, including the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), said that the appointment panel lacks criminal and prosecutorial expertise, and that the process lacked transparency. 

The group demands an amendment to legislation for the appointment of the top position, including a public nomination process and public interviews. 

In the spirit of transparency and to allow the public to make informed comments on the candidates, the DOJ&CD has now made each candidate’s CV public. 

According to the publicly accessible documents, all candidates meet the minimum requirements of having 10 years of experience, the legal qualifications to practice in all courts in the republic and South African citizenship.

However, one candidate, Menzi Simelane, can be said to be in breach of the NPA’s rules that the position is a non-renewable term of 10 years. 

Simelane previously held the role of NDPP in 2012 for one year, an appointment which was set aside by the courts. 

Here is a look into the CVs of each of the shortlisted candidates:

Menzi Simelane

Menzi Simelane previously held the position of NDPP for one year of the 10-year term. He was appointed despite the Ginwala Commission, investigating his predecessor, Vusi Pikoli’s fitness to hold office, found prima facie evidence of dishonesty, lack of integrity and misconduct against Simelane.

Former President Jacob Zuma selected Simelane after these findings were published. The decision to appoint Simelane was therefore set aside as an abuse of executive power. 

He went on to serve as legal advisor to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in 2013, but has continued to face scrutiny, including a 2025 Johannesburg Society of Advocates bid to strike him from the roll as “not fit and proper.”

His CV demonstrates a track record of involvement in drafting major legislation, including the Public Administration Management Act and the Competition Act.

He also served as Director-General of the DoJ&CD from 2005 to 2009. 

Nicolette Astraid Bell

Bell currently holds one of the most significant positions within the NPA already, working as the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Western Cape, having held the position since March 2022.

She studied at the University of the Western Cape, where she earned a BA Law and LLB, before specialising in Commercial and Labour Law at the University of South Africa. 

She was admitted as an advocate of the High Court in May 1996. She is known for prosecuting the Nasrec Serial killer and rapist in 2002. The accused, Lazarus Mazingane, was given 17 life sentences. 

She went on to hold the position of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions from 2004 to 2008. Bell is credited with establishing the Western Cape’s Provincial Sexual Offences Forum, a model which is now considered best practice nationally. 

Hermione Cronje

Hermione Cronje’s most notable career achievement is her role as Investigating Director of the NPA, specifically tasked with establishing a prosecutorial capacity to investigate and prosecute cases exposed by the Zondo, Mpati and Nugent Commissions. 

She held this position between 2019 and 2022, when she resigned from the NPA for “a combination of personal and professional reasons.”

She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She also has experience working with non-profit organisation Open Secrets, investigating private-sector economic crimes and links to human rights abuses. 

As a researcher in parliament in the late 1990s, Cronje was involved in analysing the draft bills that became the NPA Act.

She has recently been working for the Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative. In 2024, she was selected as one of three international commissioners to conduct an external assessment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Andrea Johnson

Andrea Johnson has extensive experience in fighting corruption, having been an integral part of the Scorpians unit before its disbandment, and working in the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).

Working with the IDAC, she is currently tasked with handling the state capture findings of the Zondo, Mpati and Nugent Commissions and high-profile corruption cases. 

Johnson joined the Directorate of Special Operations, the Scorpions, in 1999. She describes it as a time when the unit was working 12-hour says to build up the entity.

She served as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions at the Scorpions from 2004 until it was disbanded in 2009.

Before she joined the IDAC, she worked as the National Coordinator for Organised Crime. 

She is fluent in English, Afrikaans and Zulu, and says her ability to communicate with people in a language of their choosing is a sign of respect.

Xolisile Jennifer Khanyile

Xolise Jennifer Khanyile currently chairs the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime and the Open Ownership Advisory Board, working to advance transparency in beneficial ownership. 

Prior to this, Khanyile launched the South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force (SAMLIT) in December 2019, described as South Africa’s first public-private partnership of its kind. 

She also spearheaded and served as Director of the Fusion Centre, a multi-agency hub that handles high-profile corruption cases. 

She has served as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)  in the Free State from 2011 to 2017 and as Acting DPP in Gauteng. 

She also currently serves as a member of the Financial Services Tribunal and chair of the United for Wildlife Financial Taskforce. 

Adrian Carl Mopp

Adrian Carl Mopp works as an Evidence Leader for Judicial Conduct Tribunals, holding judges accountable. 

Mopp has extensive experience in the foundations of the NPA, having been a member of the NPA Macro Structure design team in 2009.

He has also previously sat on the NDPP review panel in 2019, evaluating applicants for the position he has now applied for. 

Mopp worked on the joint NPA/SAPS Task Team for the dissolution of the Scorpions in 2008 and 2009, and also represented the NPA on the Parliamentary Committee that led to the creation of the current Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks. 

Mopp holds five degrees, including two Master’s degrees from the University of Cape Town.