Batohi faces scrutiny over NPA interference allegations

OUTGOING National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi is facing mounting pressure to provide details of her claims that there is political interference in the work of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

In an interview this week, Batohi had said: “The NPA has been infiltrated by people who do not have the rule of law at heart. We are having internal challenges; some prosecutors may not be aligned with the vision of really fighting for the rule of law in this country.”

Calls for Batohi to be summoned to Parliament to provide explanations follow a difficult period for the NPA during which the authority has bungled a number of high-profile cases.

The latest was the Free State High Court declaring the extradition of former Free State premier and ex-ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s personal assistant, Moroadi Cholota, from the US unlawful as it did not have a valid and lawful request by the Justice Ministry.

As a result of Judge Phillip Loubser’s ruling, Cholota cannot face trial in the controversial R255 million tender to audit and replace asbestos roofs in the province alongside her former boss and several other individuals and companies.