Batohi Refuses to Step Down Amid Omotoso Acquittal Controversy

(The Post News)- Following multiple requests from some members of the Parliament’s Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee, Advocate Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, has refused to step down.

The call for her resignation occurred during a meeting regarding the acquittal of Timothy Omotoso, a media evangelist charged with several counts of rape, extortion, and human trafficking, along with his two co-accused. Due to the prosecutor’s conduct and capabilities, or lack thereof, as Judge Irma Shoeman remarked, Omotoso was found not guilty.

Claiming that Batohi’s governance is the reason for the NPA’s declining performance, some members of the MK and EFF have pushed for her resignation, citing that Omotoso’s verdict has hindered efforts to tackle the gender-based violence crisis in South Africa.

However, Advocate Batohi has made it clear that she has no intention of resigning from her position anytime soon. Compared to the previous prosecutorial unit, which was disqualified from further court proceedings due to reports of unethical conduct, Batohi claims that since her appointment, she has done an incredible job turning the NPA office into a well-run team of professional prosecutors.

On the other hand, Omotoso’s release has been confirmed by the NPA, revealing that he will not be deported at this point, as the 48-hour obligation for him to be brought to court was not met. Speaking with the SABC Afternoon News, legal analyst Mpumelelo Zikalala contends that this highlights the NPA’s and the Department of Home Affairs’ insufficiency in handling the case properly. He argues that had the NPA followed immigration laws precisely, there would have been no mishaps.

The NPA’s failure to follow legal procedures has resulted in Judge Shoeman calling their cross-examination shallow.