EFF, MKP demand accountability from Shamila Batohi over NPA sabotage claims
The National Prosecuting Authority under Advocate Shamila Batohi is facing significant challenges.
Image: Henk Kruger
National prosecutions boss Shamila Batohi is facing renewed criticism from several parties, including the EFF, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and ActionSA, over her recent statements about sabotage within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Last week Batohi, responding to intense criticism over several embarrassing defeats in high-profile cases said there had been "infiltration" of the prosecution service but later backtracked, saying she had use the wrong term and instead that certain cases were being deliberately sabotaged.
Despite the backtracking by Batohi, the parties remain unconvinced and are demanding accountability, saying if there is sabotage then this happened under her watch and she should take responsibility by stepping down.
The MK Party, on Monday, expressed concern over Batohi's statements, emphasising the need for transparency and accountability within the NPA.
'We are the first ones to call for her (Batohi) head. It's been three weeks since we made that call. She has shown that she is incompetent and therefore must go,' MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
Last week the EFF wrote to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, requesting an urgent debate on what it believes is an institutional crisis at the NPA.
There is concern after the NPA was dealt a major blow in the case against former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule when the court ruled that the extradition from the US of his former PA, Moroadi Colota, was invalid.
The NPA has also been slammed for bungling the case against Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who was acquitted on more than 30 charges of sexual assault.
The NPA's failure to secure the extradition of the Gupta brothers, nearly a decade after the Gupta Leaks scandal, has also raised questions about the authority's effectiveness.
The EFF said Batohi's remarks suggest undue influence is being exerted on the NPA, compromising its ability to secure justice and accountability.
"This is not a casual institutional complaint. It is a constitutional red flag of the highest order," the EFF said.
"An assertion from the NDPP herself that the NPA has been infiltrated should send shockwaves throughout every organ of state," the letter read.
ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip called for Batohi's immediate removal, citing the NPA's repeated failures in high-profile cases.
"The NPA has become a refuge for politically connected individuals, a place where accountability is avoided, justice is delayed, and prosecutions collapse with shocking regularity.
"Under Batohi's leadership, the NPA reels from one scandal to the next. South Africans are left wondering if these failures are merely a result of incompetence, or is there a deliberate agenda to protect the corrupt,' Trollip said.
NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga did not answer questions sent Monday.
Batohi had said that if she felt she was underperforming, then she would step down immediately.
However, the parties are not satisfied with her explanation and are demanding that she take responsibility.
The DA has expressed concerns about the NPA's failures but has stopped short of calling for Batohi's removal. Instead, the party wants Batohi to explain the failures.
The DA last week announced a reform package aimed at rescuing the NPA and restoring justice for victims of corruption.
According to the DA, the NPA is currently "broken" and has failed to secure successful prosecutions in high-profile corruption cases.
To address these issues, the DA's Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development, Glynnis Breytenbach, proposes a series of reforms.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
40 minutes ago
- The Star
Justice seems elusive as the accused in the Sindiso Magaqa murder pleads guilty
Nearly eight years after the assassination of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, a key breakthrough in the long-running murder case has finally arrived. One of the four men charged with his killing, Sibusiso Ncengwa, has pleaded guilty in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, admitting to pulling the trigger in the 2017 shooting. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara confirmed that Ncengwa, who was charged alongside Sbonelo Myeza, Mlungisi Ncalane and Mbulelo Mpofana, admitted to the murder of Magaqa and several related crimes during court proceedings on 6 June 2025. His confession marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn national attention and exposed deep political tensions in KwaZulu-Natal. According to the NPA, Ncengwa submitted formal admissions in terms of Section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act. These included admitting to the murder of Magaqa on 13 July 2017 in uMzimkhulu, the attempted murder of Jabulile Msiya, Nonsikelelo Mafa and Nceba Mazongolo, malicious damage to property involving the victims' vehicles, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The court found Ncengwa guilty based on his admissions. His sentencing is scheduled for 30 June 2025. Meanwhile, his co-accused, Myeza and Mpofana, will appear in court on 19 June 2025 for a new indictment following the separation of their trial from Ncengwa's. The fourth accused, Mlungisi Ncalane, has been declared unfit to stand trial and is currently admitted to a psychiatric facility. Ncengwa's detailed confession outlined the planning, coordination, and execution of the attack, implicating all the accused in a plot that has long been suspected to be politically motivated.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Shamila Batohi: Villain or scapegoat for the NPA's failures?
National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi claims that prosecutors are working with criminals to sabotage cases. Image: File Is Shamila Batohi, the head of the National Prosecuting Authority, the victim of an orchestrated campaign aimed at removing her from the office or is she responsible for the prosecuting body's failure to prosecute several high-profile cases. Last week Batohi, responding to criticism over several embarrassing defeats in massive cases, said there had been 'infiltration' of the prosecution service, but later backtracked, saying she had used the wrong term and instead that certain cases were being deliberately sabotaged. The embarrassing defeats include the case against Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who was acquitted on more than 30 charges of sexual assault and the case against former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule when the court ruled that the extradition of his former PA, Moroadi Colota, from the US was invalid. In the court of public opinion these high-profile losses by the NPA appear to be linked to incompetence but it would be remiss to overlook Batohi's claims that prosecutors are working with criminals to sabotage cases. This explosive revelation by the country's prosecutions boss to justice minister Mmamoloko Kubayi at a recent meeting should set alarm bells ringing. Instead the focus has shifted to the calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa not to extend Batohi's term of office, which expires next year, and to change the appointment model for selecting a new head of the NPA. The hard lessons for Batohi and those who want to see prosecutions of those involved in state capture or corruption, is that the NPA has suffered from a skills catastrophe for years. There are too few staff with the skills to prosecute those involved in high-level crimes and there is a distinct lack of political willpower to resolve this. Ramaphosa has promised to meet with Batohi, defending the NPA by saying it has done considerable work to stabilise itself as well as go on with various prosecutions.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Breakthrough in Sindiso Magaqa murder case: one accused pleads guilty
Sindiso Magaqa, a rising star within the ANC and former secretary-general of the Youth League, was seen as one of the more outspoken and reformist figures within the party at the time of his death. He was also a vocal critic of corruption. Image: Supplied Nearly eight years after the assassination of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, a key breakthrough in the long-running murder case has finally arrived. One of the four men charged with his killing, Sibusiso Ncengwa, has pleaded guilty in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, admitting to pulling the trigger in the 2017 shooting. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara confirmed that Ncengwa, who was charged alongside Sbonelo Myeza, Mlungisi Ncalane and Mbulelo Mpofana, admitted to the murder of Magaqa and several related crimes during court proceedings on 6 June 2025. His confession marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn national attention and exposed deep political tensions in KwaZulu-Natal. According to the NPA, Ncengwa submitted formal admissions in terms of Section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act. These included admitting to the murder of Magaqa on 13 July 2017 in uMzimkhulu, the attempted murder of Jabulile Msiya, Nonsikelelo Mafa and Nceba Mazongolo, malicious damage to property involving the victims' vehicles, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The court found Ncengwa guilty based on his admissions. His sentencing is scheduled for 30 June 2025. Meanwhile, his co-accused, Myeza and Mpofana, will appear in court on 19 June 2025 for a new indictment following the separation of their trial from Ncengwa's. The fourth accused, Mlungisi Ncalane, has been declared unfit to stand trial and is currently admitted to a psychiatric facility. Ncengwa's detailed confession outlined the planning, coordination, and execution of the attack, implicating all the accused in a plot that has long been suspected to be politically motivated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Sindiso Magaqa, a rising star within the ANC and former secretary-general of the Youth League, was seen as one of the more outspoken and reformist figures within the party at the time of his death. He was also a vocal critic of corruption, particularly in local government structures in KwaZulu-Natal, and had begun to challenge maladministration in the uMzimkhulu municipality where he served as a councillor. His assassination in 2017 shocked the nation and deepened fears about the growing number of politically motivated killings in the province. Magaqa was shot multiple times in what police described as a "targeted hit" and succumbed to his injuries weeks later in a Durban hospital. At the time of his death, tensions within the ANC were high, with factional battles and contestation for positions often spilling over into violence. Many observers linked his murder to his anti-corruption stance and his efforts to expose irregularities in tender processes. Since 2017, the case has suffered from delays, threats to witnesses, and allegations of political interference. The guilty plea by Ncengwa is the first significant development in years, offering hope that justice may finally be within reach for Magaqa's family and supporters. With Ncengwa's confession now on the record, the prosecution is expected to build a stronger case against the remaining accused. Eight witnesses have already testified, and more are expected as the trial resumes. As sentencing looms and the remaining accused prepare for trial, the court proceedings may finally uncover the full truth behind a killing that has left a lasting scar on South African politics.
