Batohi Says Expert Panel Guided Decision To Drop Charges Against KZN Hawks Boss Johan Booysen

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shamila Batohi has told an inquiry that her decision to withdraw charges against KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Johan Booysen stemmed from a recommendation made by a qualified panel she appointed.

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Batohi appeared on Friday as the main witness in the inquiry into the conduct of Johannesburg prosecutions boss Andrew Chauke, who is accused of taking questionable prosecutorial decisions.

Although the inquiry is focused on Chauke’s fitness to remain in office, Friday’s session centred on Batohi’s involvement in the decision to withdraw racketeering charges against Booysen and the Cato Manor organised crime unit.

Panel Review Led to Key Recommendations

After taking office in 2019, Batohi established a panel to reassess the earlier decision to prosecute Booysen — a decision originally taken by a team led by Chauke.

She told the inquiry that the panel subsequently reviewed the racketeering authorisations issued by former NPA leaders Nomgcobo Jiba and Shaun Abrahams.

The panel recommended: “The prosecution instituted against all the accused on the racketeering charges, based on the authorisations issued by the acting NDPP N Jiba and NDPP S Abrahams, as set out above, should be withdrawn.”

Question Over Chauke’s Authority in Booysen Prosecution

Batohi said the central allegation against Chauke was that he lacked the authority to oversee the prosecution of Booysen and the Cato Manor unit, as he was responsible for prosecutions in Johannesburg, not KwaZulu-Natal.

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