Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced the recruitment drive for her department and the National Prosecuting Authority.
Image: GCIS
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is on a recruitment drive to fill vacant positions within its top management and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following resignations and retirements.
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said former director-general Doctor Mashabane and deputy director-general for ICT Jabu Hlatshwayo, who were suspended and faced disciplinary action, have left the department.
The suspensions of Mashabane and Hlatshwayo came shortly before the Madlanga Commission was originally scheduled to commence in September last year.
The commission had revealed that it would not commence as scheduled on September 1.
This was attributed to infrastructure procurement issues faced by the Justice and Constitutional Department that have had significant implications for the inquiry’s timeline.
This week, Kubayi said they were currently in the process of recruitment through the Presidency for the department’s director-general.
The position became vacant following the departure of Mashabane, who left at the beginning of this year.
Mashabane requested to be released from the department on February 2, prior to the end of his contract on February 28.
Deputy Director-General Kalayvani Pillay is acting in the position.
Kubayi said they will start to recruit two deputy directors-general, including the one responsible for ICT.
“We currently have a secondment from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which is helping us as the acting head of that branch. Deputy Director-General Hlatshwayo resigned at the beginning of his disciplinary process and subsequently left the department.”
Kubayi also said the department was set to fill the deputy director-general responsible for institutional development and support, following the appointment of Thabiso Thiti as the head of the Financial Intelligence Centre.
She announced that the new deputy director-general for corporate services is Rhulani Ngwenya, who previously held the same position at the Higher Education and Training Department.
Kubayi further said following the appointment of former SIU head Andy Mothibi as head of the NPA, the search is under way for the heads of National Prosecuting Services (NPS) and the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).
She said they were aiming to make the appointments by the end of April.
“We are looking around or within the week or two to have the appointment of NPS head and AFU. These are National Directors of Public Prosecutions.”
Kubayi also said the Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Barry Madondo, retired at the end of April.
Sonja Josiah Ntuli was appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga after acting in the position for some time.
Meanwhile, Kubayi said work was in progress to submit bills to Parliament as promised by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
“We have a legislative programme we can be able to share with the portfolio committee for the remainder of this administration so that members of the portfolio committee can monitor the legislative work but also can be able to plan properly.
“That has been submitted to the Deputy President, who intends to submit it to the Speaker's office in terms of our legislative programme.”
She said the new Protected Disclosure Bill, which aims to protect whistle-blowers, has already gone out for public comments.
“The closing date is May 14 for the public to make inputs, and therefore, we will be bringing that legislation.”
Kubayi also said the Criminal Procedure Act will be reviewed along with the NPA Act.
“The SIU Act will be reviewed as well together with the Public Protector Act,” she said, adding that some of the bills were ready and would be tabled soon.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za