The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) has criticised the criteria used to select candidates for the position of National Director of Public Prosecution.

CASAC says the advisory panel tasked with selecting the next NDPP focused more on legal practitioners handling high-profile cases and discriminated against those in lower courts.

Six candidates have now been shortlisted to move forward to the next stage of interviews. The appointment of a new NDPP comes at a crucial time for the justice system, with expectations of ensuring accountability within the country’s prosecution services. The public has been invited to comment on the suitability of the candidates. Submissions must be sent to the Secretariat at NDPPpanel@justice.gov.za by Friday next week, with the interview processes expected to take place between 10 and 11 December.

WATCH | Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says six candidates chosen out of 32 applicants for the NDPP role met the minimum requirements for the post. The list includes former NDPP Advocate Menzi Simelane, Advocate Hermione Cronje and IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson. pic.twitter.com/JE0yUkSpYp

— SABC News (@SABCNews) November 27, 2025

CASAC Executive Secretary Lawson Naidoo says the net ought to have been cast as wide as possible.

“This comes back to the issue around the composition of the panel, who seem to be focusing very much on legal practitioners. And I think that’s a misconception because this is about running a very important and complex organisation, the National Prosecuting Authority. So the fact that somebody is a good prosecutor in court does not necessarily make them a good manager of an institution such as the NPA.”

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