President Cyril Ramaphosa has invited seven legal organisations and independent public institutions to assist him in identifying and selecting individuals for consideration as possible candidates for the position of National Director of Public Prosecutions.
The panel will be chaired by Energy Minister Jeff Radebe.
According to the Presidency, the panel will be requested to identify potential candidates, establish that they meet the required criteria, conduct interviews with potential candidates and recommend at least three candidates to the President.
It said in a statement on Sunday that while the panel will make recommendations, the Constitution prescribes that it is ultimately only the President who can decide who to appoint as NDPP. The President will do this after consultation with Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Michael Masutha.
The organisations that have been invited to provide a representative are:
· General Council of the Bar of South Africa
· Law Society of South Africa
· Black Lawyers Association
· National Association of Democratic Lawyers
· Advocates for Transformation
· Auditor General of South Africa
· South African Human Rights Commission
The panel will be tasked to complete its work and make recommendations to the President to enable him to meet the deadline set by the Constitutional Court to appoint a new NDPP within 90 court days of 13 August 2018.
The National Prosecuting Authority has the power to institute and conduct criminal proceedings on behalf of the State; carry out any necessary functions incidental to instituting and conducting such criminal proceedings. – SAnews.gov.za
