Calling for the Resignation of NDPP Adv Shamila Batohi Amidst NPA's Disastrous Failures
- Bagaetsho
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
MEDIA STATEMENT
Johannesburg, Thursday, 03 April 2025 – Public Interest SA is appalled by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) catastrophic mishandling of the case against Nigerian televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused. The shocking acquittal of Omotoso, who faced multiple charges including rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking, is yet another testament to the NPA’s staggering incompetence under the leadership of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Adv Shamila Batohi.
We therefore call on Batohi to resign immediately, as public trust in the NPA and the broader criminal justice system has all but collapsed due to her failure to lead the institution effectively.
The Gqeberha High Court’s ruling exposed the NPA’s egregious prosecutorial misconduct, bordering on the criminal. Judge Irma Schoeman’s excoriating remarks highlight the glaring inadequacies in the state’s case — poorly conducted cross-examinations, a lack of corroborating evidence, and a disjointed prosecution strategy that resulted in an abysmal failure to secure justice for the victims. The fact that multiple prosecutors mishandled the case over eight years demonstrates the NPA’s systemic dysfunction and shocking disregard for victims of sexual violence.
Judge Schoeman’s ruling also noted the misconduct of former prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa, who actively encouraged witnesses to omit crucial evidence, yet the NPA’s response to his removal was sluggish and ineffective. Furthermore, the institution’s failure to properly cross-examine the accused during trial raises serious questions about whether justice was ever a priority in this matter.
The acquittal of Omotoso occurred on the same day that Ignacia Koketso Mahlakwane, an NPA prosecutor, appeared in court on charges of corruption, extortion, and obstructing the administration of justice. This stunning coincidence underscores the rot within the institution. With prosecutors embroiled in corruption and botched prosecutions becoming the norm, South Africa’s justice system is in dire straits.
Under Batohi’s leadership, the NPA has stumbled from one blunder to another. High-profile cases have collapsed due to incompetence, corruption within the prosecutorial ranks remains unchecked, and the institution continues to betray the public’s trust. The Rule of Law is not merely under threat — it is in a state of crisis. The justice system is failing victims, emboldening criminals, and eroding faith in South Africa’s democratic order.
Public Interest SA refuses to stand by while justice is systematically dismantled. We call upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to take immediate action to restore public confidence in the NPA. This begins with the resignation or removal of Batohi and the urgent overhaul of the prosecutorial system.
It is time to hold those in power accountable and demand a prosecutorial authority that serves justice, not dysfunction and impunity.
END
Issued by: Bagaetsho Oteng
Media & Communications
