Lack of skills in the NPA was derailing its success – Cronje

By Simon Nare

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will need to clean its house and confront its challenges head-on in order to function to the best of its ability.

This was the submission of former head of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate (later IDAC), Advocate Hermione Cronje, on Thursday, during interviews by the advisory panel to replace Advocate Shamila Batohi, the outgoing National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).

Cronje and former NDPP head Advocate Menzi Simelane, who was also interviewed on Thursday, were two of the six candidates shortlisted for the job.

Cronje told the panel – chaired by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi – that the lack of skills in the NPA was derailing its success in trying cases.

She described the challenges facing the institution as “catastrophic”, and called for an honest approach to dealing with them. In response, some of the panellists asked why she