BOSA Blasts NPA’s Six-Year Failure Under Shamila Batohi, Demands New NDPP to Tackle South Africa’s Justice Crisis

Pretoria – Build One South Africa (BOSA) has launched a scathing attack on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), accusing it of failing to secure meaningful convictions in major corruption and violent crime cases over the past six years. In a strongly worded media statement, the party squarely blames this shortfall on the legacy of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who promised a “new dawn” of justice but has instead overseen a period of drift, delay, and collapse in prosecutions. BOSA reiterates that South Africa needs an NDPP who is independent, fearless, and performance-driven to restore public confidence in the rule of law and ensure that criminals face real consequences. The new DPP appointment has to be an individual with the experience to rebuild the credibility of the justice system itself.

This comes as Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald revealed shocking figures showing only 167 343 total inmates currently behind bars in the country’s prisons, a number that highlights the massive gap between reported crimes and actual justice served. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane described the situation as a full-blown crisis, with criminals roaming the streets freely while the system buckles under inefficiencies. Ongoing inquiries, including the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, are exposing deep-rooted problems in policing and prosecutions, sparking urgent calls for reforms at all levels.

NPA’s Track Record: High Conviction Rates Mask Major Failures

Under Advocate Shamila Batohi’s leadership since her appointment in 2019, the NPA has boasted impressive overall conviction rates, reaching around 90% in complex commercial crimes and tax cases in recent years. For instance, in 2024 alone, the authority secured 333 convictions in intricate tax matters, showing some progress in specialised areas. However, critics point out that these numbers hide a glaring failure in high-profile cases, particularly those linked to state capture and corruption involving powerful figures.

BOSA’s statement echoes widespread frustration, noting that despite promises of accountability, the NPA has not delivered on securing convictions in landmark corruption probes. One notable debacle was the failure to convict pastor Timothy Omotoso on serious charges, which added to a string of mishaps. Opposition parties like the EFF and ActionSA have repeatedly called for Batohi’s removal, arguing that her tenure has turned the NPA into a “get out of jail card” for the corrupt. In parliamentary sittings, MPs have grilled Batohi on these shortcomings, with some accusing her of not doing enough to prosecute major state capture cases involving politicians.

Batohi has defended her record, insisting that convictions in state capture matters are on the rise and that strides have been made in sex crime prosecutions. Yet, as her term nears its end in 2025, her legacy remains divided. Delays in extraditions, such as those for key suspects in corruption scandals, and the lack of significant wins have left many South Africans questioning the authority’s effectiveness. BOSA argues that this failure falls squarely on Ramaphosa’s watch, undermining his vision of a renewed justice system.

Prison Population Exposes Justice System Breakdown

The revelation from Minister Groenewald that South Africa’s prisons hold just 167 343 inmates – including 59 887 unsentenced remand detainees awaiting trial, 107 456 sentenced offenders serving time, and 26 917 incarcerated for sexual offences – paints a stark picture of a justice system in disarray. This total represents only 0.2% of all citizens, a figure BOSA says is alarmingly low when compared to over 1.3 million serious crimes reported each year.

Groenewald shared these details in response to a written parliamentary question from BOSA, highlighting the chasm between crimes committed, investigations completed, and justice delivered. Of the country’s 243 prisons, 190 are operating at over 100% capacity, leading to severe overcrowding that hampers rehabilitation efforts. The minister has pushed for reforms, including self-sufficiency initiatives to reduce taxpayer burdens, such as encouraging prisons to produce their own food and goods. He has also highlighted the high cost of housing foreign nationals, with daily expenses exceeding R11 million for around 24 000 such inmates, prompting calls for faster deportations.

This crisis is compounded by chronic shortages in policing resources. In June 2025, BOSA received a parliamentary reply from the Minister of Police revealing that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has only 2 344 detectives nationwide dedicated to investigating serious crimes like murder, rape, and robbery. This shortfall means thousands of cases go cold, victims are denied justice, and investigations are left incomplete. As a result, society suffers where criminals act with impunity, and law-abiding citizens live in fear. Case files pile up on the desks of overburdened detectives, turning the justice system into a dysfunctional mess.

Madlanga Commission and Ad Hoc Inquiries Shine Light on Policing Woes

The ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, established by President Ramaphosa in response to explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025, is uncovering layers of criminality, political interference, and corruption within the policing sector. The commission, chaired by Justice Dikgang Moseneke with support from other legal experts, is probing claims of high-level infiltration by criminal syndicates into the justice system.

Hearings, which resumed on 14 October 2025 at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Tshwane, have featured testimonies from key figures like suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya. Sibiya has denied allegations of overstepping his duties and interfering in provincial operations, particularly in the AKA murder case, while disputing Mkhwanazi’s accounts of task team disbandments. The inquiry has highlighted tensions in police leadership, unwritten directives, and potential sabotage, raising questions about accountability and chain of command.

Parallel to this, Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee is investigating similar claims, with Sibiya appearing before MPs to face tough questions. These probes are revealing a broader leadership crisis in SAPS, including procedural miscommunications and evasions on controversial relationships with figures linked to tenders and activism. BOSA’s Maimane has urged a national discussion on improving policing at all levels, from community patrols to national investigations, to address these systemic flaws.

BOSA’s Call for Decisive Change in Leadership

In its media statement, BOSA spokesperson Roger Solomons emphasised that South Africans deserve a justice system that protects the innocent, punishes the guilty, and restores faith in the rule of law. “Right now, the system is failing on all three counts,” the statement reads. The party vows to continue exposing inefficiencies and neglect within the justice system, fighting for a South Africa where justice is served.

Maimane’s direct quote captures the urgency: “We have a crisis. Criminals are roaming the streets of South Africa.” He links the low prison numbers and policing failures to the need for comprehensive reforms. With the process now underway to appoint a new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), BOSA calls for a decisive change in leadership and performance at the NPA. This includes selecting someone independent and capable of turning around the authority’s fortunes, focusing on high-impact prosecutions and rebuilding public trust.

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