Former Department of Justice DG Menzi Simelane has been appointed National Director for Public Prosecutions with effect from the December 1, the Presidency said on Wednesday.

"President Jacob Zuma has appointed the Deputy National Director for Public Prosecutions, Advocate Menzi Simelane, as the National Director for Public Prosecutions with effect from the December 1, 2009, in terms of Section 10 of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act 32 of 1998," a statement read.

Simelane takes over from acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Mokotedi Mpshe. Mpshe will return to his position of Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions.

"President Zuma thanked Advocate Mpshe for his leadership of the NPA during a challenging time of transition in the leadership of the institution."

The presidency said Simelane's experience as the administrative head of the justice department and in the legal fraternity, "provides him with the necessary skills and capacity to perform his functions efficiently and effectively.

"The National Prosecuting Authority is a critical arm of the criminal justice system and a key instrument in the broader fight against crime and the implementation of justice. Its independence and vigour in the pursuit of justice must at all times remain unquestionable. We have confidence that Adv Simelane will make this  his utmost priority," read a statement from Zuma, en-route to a Commonwealth heads of government meeting.

According to the presidency, born in 1970, Simelane completed his BProc degree in 1993 and LLB in 1995. He was admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 1996 and commenced pupillage at the Durban Bar. After that, he joined the Johannesburg Bar in 1997.

In 1999 he was appointed commissioner for the Competition Commission where he was involved in making decisions on mergers, acquisitions and anti-competitive practices, their impact on the economy and the economic transformation agenda of government.

In June 2005, he was appointed DG of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. In October 2009 he was appointed by the President as the Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions at the NPA.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe "interacted with the Public Service  Commission on matters relating to Advocate Simelane, raised by the Ginwala Commission, and decided not to proceed with disciplinary hearings against Adv Simelane".