The capture of the NPA began before Jacob Zuma even took office. In April 2009, acting NDPP Mokotedi Mpshe withdrew all corruption charges against Zuma based on the "Spy Tapes" — intercepted telephone conversations between former NDPP Bulelani Ngcuka and Scorpions head Leonard McCarthy that appeared to show discussions about the timing of charges relative to the ANC's Polokwane conference. This decision, made one month before the general election, was later found by courts to be irrational.
Once in office, Zuma systematically installed compliant NPA heads. Menzi Simelane, whose testimony at the Ginwala Inquiry had been found "riddled with dishonesty," was appointed NDPP in November 2009. The Democratic Alliance challenged this, and on 5 October 2012, the Constitutional Court declared the appointment invalid and unconstitutional, finding Zuma had failed to give adequate consideration to Simelane's dishonesty.
Deputy NDPP Nomgcobo Jiba and SCCU head Lawrence Mrwebi filled the vacuum, blocking prosecutions and pursuing politically motivated cases. Jiba authorised the baseless prosecution of senior prosecutor Gerrie Nel and was involved in the improper withdrawal of charges against Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli, a Zuma ally. When NDPP Mxolisi Nxasana proved resistant to manipulation in 2013-2015, Zuma procured his departure with an unlawful R17.3 million "golden handshake."
Shaun Abrahams was then appointed NDPP in June 2015. Under Abrahams, the NPA controversially charged Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan with fraud — widely seen as politically motivated — while failing to pursue Zuma's corruption charges. On 13 August 2018, the Constitutional Court declared both Nxasana's departure and Abrahams' appointment invalid.
The Mokgoro Inquiry (2018-2019), led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, found Jiba and Mrwebi unfit for office. President Ramaphosa removed both in April 2019. Shamila Batohi, previously senior legal adviser to the ICC Prosecutor at The Hague, was appointed NDPP in February 2019 to rebuild the institution.
The Zondo Commission's Part 2 report detailed the NPA's capture extensively, finding it was "deliberately weakened to prevent prosecution of state capture perpetrators." The Commission noted that the NPA's neutralisation was the single most important enabler of state capture — because without a functioning prosecution authority, corruption could proceed with impunity.
The Mufamadi High-Level Review Panel (2018) additionally found that the State Security Agency was used to undermine the NPA and other accountability institutions, including funding political intelligence operations and providing surveillance of prosecutors and investigators.