Law society welcomes Ramaphosa's NDPP panel
The Law Society of South Africa has welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a panel of independent organisations to identify candidates for the position of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
The council's co-chairperson, Mvuzo Notyesi, says the decision to appoint a panel is unprecedented.
"No other president has involved members of the profession, precisely because the powers to appoint the director of public prosecutions lay with the president," says Notyesi.
He believes this shows Ramaphosa is serious about appointing a credible person to head up the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
READ: Ramaphosa appoints panel to select prosecutions head
The position has been vacant since August, when former NPA head Shaun Abrahams announced his retirement.
He left after the Constitutional Court ruled his appointment to have been invalid and unconstitutional.
Notyesi says they have on numerous occasions called for the appointment of the NDPP to be a public process.
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On Sunday, the presidency announced the appointment of the panel which will be chaired by Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe and includes organisations such as the General Council of the Bar and the Human Rights Commission.
The panel is set to make recommendations to the president, whereafter he will consult with Justice Minister Michael Masutha on the final appointment.
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