Ad-Hoc Committee
NPA boss Shamila Batohi says sending Andrew Chauke to a fitness inquiry was a difficult but necessary step to protect the integrity of the prosecuting authority. She told the Nkabinde Inquiry the decision weighed heavily on her, yet was vital to ensure public trust in the NPA’s independence.
National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi has told the Nkabinde Inquiry that referring Johannesburg DPP Andrew Chauke to a formal inquiry into his fitness to hold office was “one of the hardest decisions” she has made since taking over the NPA. She described the move as personally painful, given her long working relationship with Chauke, but insisted that the demands of her office left her with no alternative.
Batohi said the inquiry is not a punitive act but a necessary mechanism to safeguard the credibility of the NPA. She argued that every senior prosecutor must satisfy the legal requirement of being “fit and proper,” a standard she said cannot be compromised without eroding public faith in the justice system.
She rejected claims that Chauke is being targeted for making unpopular prosecutorial decisions, saying the issues raised were serious enough to warrant independent scrutiny. According to her, transparency and accountability are central to defending the rule of law, especially in a climate where prosecutorial integrity is under intense public examination.
Batohi stressed that part of the NPA’s constitutional mandate is resisting political, financial or external interference. She said ensuring the public believes prosecutors act without fear, favour or prejudice requires uncomfortable decisions — including referring a respected colleague to an inquiry.
