ActionSA has called for the immediate removal of Advocate Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), and demanded a full parliamentary inquiry into prosecutorial failures at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The party accused the NPA of becoming a “get-out-of-jail card” for politically connected individuals — citing the collapse of the asbestos corruption case against former Free State Premier Ace Magashule. ActionSA warns this is indicative of “deep dysfunction, either through incompetence or wilful neglect”.
A Pattern of Failures
ActionSA argues that Magashule’s case is just one in a disturbing pattern of prosecutorial collapse, pointing to other high-profile failures, including:
- Timothy Omotoso trial
- Shepherd Bushiri extradition
- Estina Dairy Project
- Non-prosecution of the Gupta brothers despite the Guptaleaks scandal
According to the party, the NPA has effectively become a sanctuary for corruption, with investigations repeatedly “collapsing with shocking regularity”.
Acting on Legal Power
ActionSA’s parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, stated that the President has the authority under Section 12(6) of the NPA Act to provisionally suspend the NDPP — and argued that President Ramaphosa’s inaction shows a lack of political will.
The party plans to formally request intervention from Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to initiate processes to remove Batohi.
Public Trust at Risk
ActionSA warns that South Africans can no longer tolerate a justice system that protects the corrupt and fails victims of state capture, particularly when the R500 billion losses from state capture continue to impact communities.
Only six state capture prosecutions were recorded recently — far below the NPA’s target of ten by 2027, and zero convictions related to the Guptaleaks scandal.
What They Want?
- Immediate removal of Shamila Batohi as NDPP
- Parliamentary inquiry into NPA’s operations and alleged political interference
- Restoration of public confidence in serious and impartial prosecutions
