Growing demand for parliamentary leadership in NDPP appointments

CALLS have been made for the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) to be undertaken by Parliament rather than the Executive.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

This comes amid the conclusion of the interviews on Thursday of six candidates nominated to succeed incumbent Shamila Batohi when her term ends next month.

The panel will submit its report to President Cyril Ramaphosa for his consideration.

However, there has been a concern around the constitution of the advisory panel interviewing the candidates, and chaired by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.

Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Parliament should lead the process, if it was to be fair.

"At the moment, those people chosen by the president are the president's people.

"If we have to appoint people who are going to occupy such critical spaces, you should let that be led by Parliament.

"But when it's led by the executive, you should know that it will smack and smell of the presidential people ," he said in reference to the panel consisting of Chapter 9 institutions and representatives from lawyers' associations.