NDPP candidates address challenges in leadership bid

THE leadership tier of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must be stabilised, and lifestyle audits should be endorsed to ensure an ethical prosecuting organisation.

- ZELDA VENTER

This is how two of the candidates running for the position of head of the prosecuting authority see the future of this office.

Both the current Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape, Nicolette Bell, and her deputy, Advocate Adrian Mopp, yesterday assured Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and her panel that they are competent candidates to run the country's prosecuting authority and to take over from the head, Advocate Shamila Batohi, when she steps down next month.

Mopp stated that if he took over, the starting point must be ensuring the independence of the office.

He pointed out that some say the NPA had been captured, but stressed that decisions taken must be underpinned by two things - the law and the facts.