- President Cyril Ramaphosa has named Advocate Adrian Carl Mopp as the new Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape.
- With more than 30 years of legal experience and over two decades in senior management at the NPA, Mopp brings a wealth of expertise to the role.
- He is perhaps best known for leading the State’s case in the Shrien Dewani murder trial.
If the name Adrian Carl Mopp rings a bell, it’s likely because he was the lead prosecutor in the high-profile Shrien Dewani murder trial, one of South Africa’s most closely followed criminal cases. Now, Mopp steps into one of the country’s most senior prosecutorial roles.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mopp as the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Western Cape. His appointment takes effect from 10 September 2026.
The appointment was made under the National Prosecuting Authority Act, after consultation with Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi.
More than three decades in prosecution
According to the Presidency, Mopp’s appointment reflects a long and distinguished legal career spanning more than three decades, including over 23 years in the National Prosecuting Authority’s Senior Management Service.
Mopp was admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 1993. He has held leadership positions at both provincial and national levels, and has served as Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape since 2009.
Before that, he headed the Directorate of Special Operations in the province and held senior roles in the Asset Forfeiture Unit. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation in handling complex criminal prosecutions and organised crime cases.
The prosecutor behind the Dewani trial
Mopp became known across the country as the State advocate who led the prosecution of Dewani, who was accused of arranging the murder of his wife, Anni Dewani, during their honeymoon in Cape Town in 2010.
The trial drew international attention and ultimately ended with Dewani’s acquittal after the High Court ruled that the State’s evidence was not strong enough to support the prosecution. Despite the outcome, the case remains one of the most significant criminal trials in South African history.
Advanced legal credentials
Mopp also has advanced qualifications in law, criminal justice, criminology, and international studies. His credentials include a Master of Philosophy in Law and a Master of Laws in Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Ramaphosa has expressed confidence that Mopp will continue to contribute to independent, effective and efficient prosecution services as he takes on the leadership of the Western Cape’s prosecuting authority.
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