Parliament urges Batohi to reveal rogue NPA prosecutor

Parliament’s Justice and Constitutional Development Committee has intensified calls for National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi to disclose the identity of the prosecutor she publicly referred to as a “rogue” operator within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Batohi’s remarks about internal sabotage and the infiltration of prosecutors who do not uphold the rule of law sparked uproar among opposition parties and civil-society campaigners. She has refused to name the individual(s), saying investigations are ongoing. The emerging pressure comes as MPs assert that failure to hold accountable specific actors further erodes the NPA’s credibility.

During committee proceedings, members noted that while Batohi expressed concerns about unethical behaviour and interference, the refusal to provide names or timelines leaves the public asking who is responsible and whether consequences will follow. One opposition MP said: “We cannot tackle a disease if we don’t name the infected person.”

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, responding to questions in the committee, rejected claims of executive interference in prosecutions but acknowledged that the NPA “must clean house” and restore public trust. The minister echoed Batohi’s concern that the institution’s integrity is under threat if insiders undermine the prosecutorial function.

Legal experts suggest Batohi’s reluctance to name the accused prosecutor may reflect concerns about defamation, due-process and shifting responsibility onto the institution rather than singular individuals. Nonetheless, they point out that without tangible action, the NPA risks further perception of being captured or compromised.

Parliamentarians say the issue is not only about naming a person but signalling that the justice system is capable of policing its own ranks. The NPA’s founding Act provides mechanisms for discipline and suspension of prosecutors — but MPs say these must be invoked. They emphasise that victims of crime and the broader public deserve to know when blame sits within the prosecution service itself.

In the broader context, the debate underscores longstanding concerns about case collapses, delayed high-profile prosecutions and alleged political interference in the NPA. Batohi’s remarks were seen as courageous by some but vague by others. They come as the institution prepares for the transition to a new NDPP early next year.