The NDPP has shown surprising support for the move to establish a ‘stopgap’ crime-fighting unit in the form of the proposed Investigating Directorate Against Corruption. If it does indeed come into being, a simple majority in Parliament could see her facing a second Waterloo at the NPA.
On 4 December 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Shamila Batohi as the National Director of Public Prosecutions in SA, thus ending a ten-year hiatus in her career in the National Prosecuting Authority. In 2009 she accepted a position at the ICC in The Hague, but was persuaded by her son, she says, to accept the position of NDPP because it would be selfish not to do so.
The performance of the NPA under the leadership of Batohi has been somewhat underwhelming through no fault of hers. Its inability to address the backlog of cases, in particular serious corruption matters, has led to the backlog increasing instead of being worked off.Batohi complains that her institution is infested with saboteurs planted in it during the Zuma era to ensure that no politically connected corrupt operators ever see the inside of a courtroom, let alone a prison cell.
“History will judge you harshly if you do not live up to your aspirations to be ‘the peoples’ advocates’ by taking a stance that you believe serves the interests of the people you have sworn to serve.” The structures and functions of the new Idac will be legally indistinguishable from those of the Scorpions.
Batohi herself decamped to The Hague, her deputy, Anton du Plessis, a leading Scorpion, took a top job at the UN and had to be coaxed back to SA by Batohi. Many others joined the private sector or departed to other departments of state where they enjoy greater security of tenure of office. The old maxim “once bitten twice shy” will apply to most who have the potential to fill the gaps in Idac in personnel and expertise.
Napoleon never returned to Waterloo. Batohi should not descend to supporting the establishment of a Scorpions-like body that will surely lead to her second Waterloo in the NPA. –Wordplay notwithstanding, like almost every other Ramaposeur appointment, Batohi’s appointment as NDPP has disintegrated into an infuriating succession of dismal disappointments. The ANC is leading SAns a merry dance with its disingenuous “renewal” and “anti-corruption” spiel.
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