Five things you need to know about new NDPP, Advocate Andy Mothibi

By Marcus Moloko

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Jan Lekgoa (Andy) Mothibi, the head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), effective 1 February 2026.

His appointment comes as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) faces renewed public and political pressure to accelerate high-profile corruption prosecutions linked to the state capture era and other major scandals, including large-scale procurement abuse at Tembisa Hospital.

Here are five key things to know about Mothibi:

1. He led the SIU during major corruption and maladministration probes Mothibi has served as head of the SIU, overseeing investigations into corruption, maladministration, and irregular contracting across state bodies.
   
   The SIU has reported significant financial impact from its work, including publicly reported estimates of billions of rand in savings and recoveries in recent annual reporting.
   
2. The appointment followed an unusual selection process
   
   An advisory panel interviewed six shortlisted candidates from 32 applications for the role, but found that none were suitable.
   
   Ramaphosa then appointed Mothibi. Mothibi was not among the candidates interviewed by the panel, a key reason his selection has been widely described as unexpected.

3. He started as a prosecutor, then became a magistrate
   
   According to the presidency, Mothibi began his career as a public prosecutor in Johannesburg and Soweto, and later served as a magistrate in those jurisdictions.
   
4. He also held senior legal and governance roles, including at SARS
   
   Mothibi has held senior management positions in both the public and private sectors. The Presidency and the SIU biography list, among other roles, that he served at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as Head of Corporate Legal Services and Head of Governance.
   
5. He takes over the NPA as scrutiny on corruption prosecutions intensifies
   
   As NDPP, Mothibi will lead the NPA and oversee public prosecutions nationally.

The SIU’s work has intersected with high-profile corruption allegations in the public health sector, including at Tembisa Hospital, where the SIU has publicly reported on procurement-related losses running north of R2 billion.

The appointment was welcomed by, among others, former anti-Apartheid activist Dennis Bloem, the spokesperson for the Activist and Citizens Forum, who said:

“The appointment of the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) must be welcomed. We believe that all the corrupt thieves will have sleepless nights.”

Bloem said the forum expected the NDPP appointment to be an apolitical decision. “Politics must not play any role in this crucial appointment.”

“We think that the newly appointed NDPP Advocate Mothibi has proved himself at the Special Investigating Unit. He came in with the necessary experience, integrity, and respect that is so much needed at the NPA.

“We are quite certain that Advocate Mothibi is aware that the country wants to see urgent action on the Zondo Commission Report. We want to see all those who have been fingered in the report face the full might of the law. They must all go to jail.”

SIU Chief Operations Officer Leonard Lekgetho will serve as acting SIU head from 1 February.

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