Not even the pope could save NPA, says firebrand prosecutor
In her interview for the top job, deputy director of public prosecutions Andrea Johnson spoke of instability, political interference and factionalism
The firebrand prosecutor who helped Gerrie Nel bring down former police commissioner Jackie Selebi, and convicted murderer and former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, has said that even the pope would not be able to save the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in its current form. In a marathon interview of two hours and 45 minutes, deputy director of public prosecutions in Pretoria, Andrea Johnson, made it clear to the advisory panel — appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to interview and compile a shortlist of names, from which he will appoint the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) — that there is instability within the NPA. Appointing the NDPP is a power vested in the president, but Ramaphosa has veered away from the tradition by establishing an advisory panel to shortlist the candidates. The president has until December 19 to appoint a replacement for ousted NDPP Shaun Abrahams, whose appointment was declared invalid by the Constitutional Court. During her interview,...
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