President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday that Andy Mothibi, the current head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), will take on the pivotal role as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) effective February 1, 2026.
The decision follows an extensive and transparent selection process led by an advisory panel tasked with recommending suitable candidates. However, the panel ultimately found that none of the interviewees were suitable for the position—highlighting the difficulty in finding a replacement for outgoing NDPP Advocate Shamila Batohi.
Who is Advocate Lekgoa Jan Andy Mothibi?
Mothibi’s academic background includes a BProc law degree from the North-West University (NWU), which he obtained in 1987, and an LLB from the University of South Africa (UNISA). Furthermore, he completed an Executive Management Program at Wits Business School and undertook studies at the CAS Business School in the UK.
He began his professional journey as a public prosecutor in the Magistrates and Regional Courts of Johannesburg and Soweto. He gained essential courtroom experience that would lay the groundwork for his future roles. Notably, he also served on the bench as a Magistrate.
He joined the then Department of Finance in 1995 as the head of employee relations. Subsequently, he was involved in the project that led to the formation of the South African Revenue Service (SARS). During his time at SARS, he held the positions of head of Corporate Legal Services and head of Governance/Chief Governance Officer.
Mothibi subsequently transitioned his expertise into risk management, where he established and led key compliance frameworks at major organisations like South African Airways (SAA) and Nedbank.
From 2012, Mothibi continued to spearhead operational risk initiatives at Standard Bank, focusing on assessments of operational risks through the development of anti-fraud and anti-money laundering scenarios. His achievements in this sector established him as a leader in operational risk management, driving structural improvements that fostered compliance and security.
Mothibi joined Medscheme Holding as an Executive Director. His responsibilities encompassed leading Group Legal Services, Group Governance, Group Risk and Compliance, with Internal Audit also reporting to him.
Since May 2016, Mothibi has directed the SIU, relentlessly pursuing investigations of maladministration and corruption within public institutions.
As he prepares to transition to the NPA, Mothibi’s diverse background and wealth of experience position him to address the formidable challenges facing South Africa’s prosecuting service.
