By Kgomotso Ramotsho

The presidency issued a statement that President Cyril Ramaphosa has made three new appointments to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Advocate, Ouma Rasethaba will serve as Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions, in a role to which she brings at least 30 years of legal experience since her admission as an attorney in 1990 and an advocate six years later.

The statement added that Ms Rasethaba holds a BProc degree from the University of Limpopo, an LLB and a Diploma in Company Law from the University of Witwatersrand and an LLM from the University of Pretoria. The statement pointed out that Ms Rasethaba is an expert in governance and risk, having worked in the corporate sector for ten years. She is also a certified trainer, coach, teacher and public speaker and has trained as a negotiator, mediator and arbitrator.

Advocate, Rodney de Kock, has been appointed as a Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions: National Prosecution Services, with effect from 1 June. Mr de Kock was previously appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Western Cape by former President, Thabo Mbeki, on 1 November 2003 and he currently occupies this position. He has been a Director of Public Prosecutions for the past 15 years and is currently the second most senior Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr de Kock has 32 years’ relevant legal experience, of which he served 15 years at an executive leadership level within the NPA.

Advocate, Mthunzi Mhaga, has been appointed as Special Director: Strategic and Legal Advisor within the Office of the National Director. The statement said that he will provide legal advice to the National Director regarding specific legal and administrative issues; provide strategic inputs in matters brought before the National Director, and will manage the relationship between the Office of the National Director and stakeholders of the NPA.

The statement added that Mr Mhaga is a highly experienced, skilled and multi-talented legal practitioner with 17 years’ experience covering state advocacy, specialised investigations, High Court, regional court and district court prosecution, media liaison and he is a part-time law lecturer. He worked at the NPA in various roles, which included being the Senior State Advocate: Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit, Senior State Advocate: Priority Crimes Litigation Unit and he was also a Member of the Directorate of Special Operations task team.

The statement pointed out that President Ramaphosa made the new appointments in terms of ss 9(1) and 11(1) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998, after consultation with Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola, and National Director of Public Prosecutions advocate, Shamila Batohi.

Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.