A familiar name returns to the national stage

South Africa has a long memory when it comes to its justice system. Some names fade quietly into retirement, others circle back into headlines like they never left. Menzi Simelane is firmly the latter.

Thirteen years after being removed as National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Simelane is once again in the running for the top job at the National Prosecuting Authority. Yes the very seat he vacated under a cloud of controversy and a Constitutional Court ruling back in 2012.

Now, he’s one of six candidates shortlisted for interviews to lead the NPA when Shamila Batohi’s term ends next year.

And South Africans? They’re watching with raised eyebrows.

The shortlist and the shock inclusion

Last month, the Department of Justice confirmed six candidates had “met the minimum requirements” to be considered for the role. The list features:

• Adv. Nicolette Bell

• Adv. Adrian Mopp

• Adv. Andrea Johnson

• Adv. Xolisile Khanyile

• Adv. Hermione Cronje

• Adv. Menzi Simelane

Simelane’s name stood out swiftly, not just because of his controversial history, but because legal bodies are actively trying to have him struck off the roll. The Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA) argues he is not “fit and proper” to practice as an advocate, let alone run the NPA.

Yet he’s set to be interviewed on 11 December 2025, after the Advisory Panel pushed to widen the candidate pool. Many say that move widened the debate, too.

A ghost of the past, controversy never fully buried

For younger readers or those who’ve tucked the saga away, here’s the recap many South Africans needed this week:

Simelane was appointed NDPP by former president Jacob Zuma in 2009. His term was turbulent, drawing criticism, legal challenges, and eventually collapse. In 2012, the Constitutional Court declared his appointment invalid.

A series of inquiries and reports accused him of:

• Contradictory and inaccurate testimony

• Withholding relevant information

• Ignoring legal advice

• Drafting a letter bordering on executive interference

• Misleading a commission

• Making baseless allegations against others

Freedom Under Law (FUL) revived these findings in a fresh objection to Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, arguing that dishonesty fundamentally contradicts the NDPP’s mandate of impartiality and integrity.

Their letter pulls no punches.

One finding described Simelane’s explanations during disciplinary processes as “palpably false”, further questioning his suitability for a role that demands transparency at its core.

Why this matters, more than just an appointment

South Africans have long expressed frustration at slow prosecutions, corruption cases gathering dust, and political interference in the justice system. In WhatsApp groups and X (Twitter) threads, public reaction has ranged from disbelief to weary cynicism:

“Only in SA do we recycle people declared unfit for office,” one user posted.
“Second chance or same old movie?” asked another.

Others argue that everyone deserves redemption, but not at the helm of the country’s prosecutorial authority.

This appointment is more than a job; it symbolizes South Africa’s ongoing battle for clean governance and trust in institutions.

What happens next?

Interviews will run over two days at the Auditor-General offices in Pretoria:

10 December 2025

• 10h00 – Bell

• 12h30 – Mopp

• 15h00 – Johnson

11 December 2025

• 09h00 – Khanyile

• 11h30 – Cronje

• 14h00 – Simelane

No doubt, his session will draw the sharpest eyes and ears in the room.

Redemption or déjà vu?

South Africa sits at an interesting crossroads. The justice system has fought hard for credibility, and the appointment of the next NDPP could either strengthen that effort or reignite old wounds.

Simelane’s return forces a difficult national conversation:

Can someone once deemed unsuitable lead the institution again?
Does experience outweigh controversy or does controversy overshadow experience?
Is this a second chance story, or an uncomfortable rerun?

Whatever happens next week, this interview won’t just be about qualifications it’ll test public memory, institutional integrity, and perhaps even the direction the country wants its justice system to take.

{Source: The Citizen}

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