At the end of January 2026 the current National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Shamila Batohi, will reach retirement age of 65. She will leave office with something of a mixed legacy. On the positive side, there is no doubt that she has stabilised the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which is responsible for criminal prosecutions country-wide, and has made real progress in winning back some of the credibility and trust that the institution lost under various of her predecessors, most notably during the State capture era.

On the other hand, little has been achieved when it comes to high-profile, politically connected corruption cases. None of the former (and in some cases, current) cabinet ministers, deputy-ministers, provincial premiers, or other highly placed office-bearers fingered by the Zondo Commission of Enquiry into State
Capture has been successfully prosecuted. And, judging by the continuing stream of revelations of corruption in high places, there seems to be a sense of impunity – no one appears to be much concerned that they will eventually have to face a court of law.

Paper by the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference Parliamentary Liaison Office