Andy Mothibi’s Short Runway: Can the New NPA Boss Fix a Broken System in 30 Months?

When Advocate Andy Mothibi walks into his new office at the National Prosecuting Authority on 1 February, the clock will already be ticking.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has openly acknowledged that the newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions will have just over two years, around 30 months , before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. And according to the president, this was no accident.

Speaking to journalists during the ANC’s 114th anniversary celebrations in the North West, Ramaphosa confirmed that Mothibi’s limited tenure was fully considered before the appointment was made.

“Yes, he will give us two and a half years and we appointed him knowing that very well,” Ramaphosa said.

A Calculated Decision, Not an Oversight

Ramaphosa explained that the appointment came after an advisory panel failed to recommend a candidate, leaving him to make a judgment call at a critical moment for the NPA.

With the prosecuting authority still recovering from years of instability, leadership churn, and internal dysfunction, the president said experiencenot longevitywas the deciding factor.

Mothibi’s background spans prosecution, the magistracy, senior management, and investigationsfour pillars Ramaphosa believes are essential to steadying the institution.

“Those are the four key areas that I believe are going to stand him in good stead,” the president said, adding that he has full confidence in Mothibi’s ability to continue the NPA’s turnaround.

Opposition Raises Red Flags

Not everyone is convinced.

The Democratic Alliance has responded with what it calls “cautious optimism”, warning that appointing a leader with such a short runway could worsen instability at an institution already under immense pressure.

DA justice and correctional services spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach acknowledged Mothibi’s credentials but questioned the long-term planning behind the decision.

“At 63 years of age, he has an extremely limited opportunity to make any impact at all,” she said.

She added that the role of NDPP is far larger and more complex than heading the Special Investigating Unit, especially at a time when criminality remains widespread and public confidence in the justice system is fragile.

Why the NPA Moment Matters

The appointment lands at a sensitive moment. South Africans are still waiting to see meaningful accountability for high-level corruption, particularly after the revelations of state capture.

For many, the NPA is not just another institutionit is a symbol of whether justice can still work in South Africa.

On social media, reactions have been mixed. Some users welcomed Mothibi’s investigative experience, while others questioned whether two-and-a-half years is enough time to rebuild morale, capacity, and credibility inside a hollowed-out authority.

Who Is Andy Mothibi?

Advocate Lekgoa Jan Andy Mothibi brings a long and unusually diverse résumé to the role.

He holds a BProc from North-West University and an LLB from UNISA, alongside executive training from Wits Business School and the UK’s CAS Business School.

His career began in Johannesburg and Soweto courts as a public prosecutor and later as a magistrate. He went on to play a role in the formation of SARS, holding senior governance and legal positions, before moving into risk and compliance leadership at institutions including SAA, Nedbank, and Standard Bank.

Since 2016, Mothibi has led the SIU, driving investigations into corruption and maladministration across the public sectorexperience that now places him at the helm of the NPA.

A Short Tenure, High Stakes

Whether 30 months is enough to make a meaningful dent in the NPA’s challenges remains an open question.

What is clear is that Mothibi’s appointment reflects a broader tension in South Africa’s justice system: the urgency to act versus the need for long-term stability.

For now, the country will be watchingnot just the calendar, but the cases, decisions, and momentum that follow.

{Source: IOL}

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