Justice in the crosshairs

South Africa stands at a dangerous crossroads. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the parliamentary ad hoc committee have laid bare a chilling reality: collusion between police, politicians, business elites and the criminal underworld is not the exception, it's the norm. And at the centre of this storm sits the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), an institution whose ability to confront corruption now hangs in the balance.

- Mandla Mthembu

With National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi set to vacate her post in January, the question is no longer just who will replace her but whether the NPA itself is structurally capable of prosecuting without fear or favour.

Batohi's appointment in 2019, was met with hope. She arrived in the wake of state capture, promising reform and integrity. Yet six years later, the NPA's record is mixed.

While there have been arrests and some internal rebuilding, successful prosecutions in high-profile cases remain rare. The public's patience is wearing thin.

The problem is not just leadership - it's systemic. Though the constitution guarantees prosecutorial independence, political interference has been routine.

Ministers meddle in operations, task forces are disbanded without explanation and major investigations stall mysteriously. The NPA cannot fight the underworld when the political upper world pulls its strings.