Batohi Faces Claims Of Witness Intimidation Linked To Former Hawks Head Johan Booysen

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Shamila Batohi has been confronted with allegations that former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks Head Johan Booysen intimidated a key witness in a murder case.

The claims emerged as Batohi continued giving evidence at the inquiry probing the fitness of Johannesburg Prosecutions Head, Advocate Andrew Chauke, to hold office.

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Chauke is already under scrutiny for his prosecutorial conduct, with accusations that he pursued charges against Booysen without sufficient evidence. Batohi previously testified that she withdrew the case against Booysen and his Cato Manor Unit despite not having read the dockets in full.

She told the inquiry that she believed “there was no case” against Booysen and that Chauke had “improperly decided to prosecute” without evidence supporting such action.

WhatsApp Messages Raise New Questions About Case Withdrawal

During Friday’s proceedings, Chauke’s legal representative, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, produced WhatsApp messages dating back to 2019. The exchanges were allegedly between Booysen and a man identified as “Mr Danicus,” a witness who had fled to Europe.

According to Chauke’s team, the communication took place shortly before the NPA, acting on Batohi’s instruction, withdrew the charges against Booysen. They argued that despite the significance of the decision, the witness—still living in Europe—was neither consulted nor informed.

Chauke Inquiry Continues Amid Mounting Scrutiny

The inquiry continues to dig into Chauke’s conduct, with the latest revelations adding pressure to the already complex case.

The panel is expected to assess whether the handling of Booysen’s matter reflects broader concerns about prosecutorial integrity within the NPA.

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