Shamila Batohi in hot water for usurping minister's powers

Appointment of acting DPP solely up to Kubayi

- By Mawande AmaShabalala

NPA boss Advocate Shamila Batohi is in hot water for usurping powers reserved for the justice minister by appointing an interim director of public prosecutions (DPP) in Johannesburg to stand-in for suspended Advocate Andrew Chauke.

This after Batohi shocked prosecutors in the Joburg division of the NPA on Wednesday when she announced Riegal du Toit as interim DPP to run the show in the absence of Chauke.

But minister Mmamoloko Kubayi confirmed that she had not appointed a DPP as empowered by the law.

Seeing the blunder, Batohi, through NPA national spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, sought to spin the situation, saying Du Toit was not acting but an “interim arrangement” to avoid a vacuum of leadership.