Batohi accuses Chauke of acting without legal authority in prosecution of former KZN Hawks boss
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21 November 2025 | 10:36NPA head Shamila Batohi is back on the witness stand at inquiry into Johannesburg prosecutions boss Advocate Andrew Chauke’s fitness to hold office.
- Shamila Batohi
- Andrew Chauke
- National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
- Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks)

Advocate Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecution, appeared before the ad hoc committee that is investigating the allegations made by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Picture: Supplied/Parliament
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shamila Batohi has accused Johannesburg prosecutions boss Advocate Andrew Chauke of acting without legal authority in the prosecution of former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Johan Booysen.
Batohi is back on the witness stand at the inquiry into Chauke’s fitness to hold office.
ALSO READ: Batohi: Decision to refer Chauke to inquiry 'not an easy one to make'
It is alleged that Chauke led the prosecution team that was assembled by former acting NPA head Nomgcobo Jiba to prosecute Booysen and the Cato Manor unit in 2015 in KZN.
But Batohi, who is the main complainant in the enquiry, has been testifying that Chauke acted outside of his jurisdiction.
“The essence of the allegation of Advocate Chauke is that he exercised or purported to exercise prosecutorial powers and functions in circumstances that he had no authority to do so. He undermined or attempted to undermine the authority of the acting DPP of KwaZulu-Natal,” she said.
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