From refusing to testify at an inquiry instituted at her request, to overseeing a legal settlement for former Cato Manor Unit members, Shamila Batohi’s actions as outgoing head of the National Prosecuting Authority are under scrutiny. After spending more than a week testifying at the Nkabinde Inquiry into the fitness to hold office of Johannesburg prosecutions boss Andrew Chauke, outgoing National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Shamila Batohi unexpectedly walked out of the hearing on 15 December 2025. Batohi later reluctantly returned in the afternoon and informed a visibly peeved chairperson, Judge Bess Nkabinde, that she would only continue giving evidence after taking legal advice.
While all eyes were on the sensational Madlanga Inquiry and Parliament’s ad-hoc inquiry into police corruption, the Nkabinde Inquiry flew under the headline radar. In the meantime, the NPA confirmed on 23 December that state legal representatives had reached an out-of-court settlement with Johan Booysen, the former head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in KwaZulu-Natal, and other members of what became known as the “Cato Manor Unit”, but that all parties were bound by a “non-disclosure agreement”. This was in respect of a civil claim instituted against the NPA by Booysen and other members for malicious prosecution.
The matter has consumed the courts and the lives of those involved for almost 17 years. The surprise walkout by Batohi occurred after she had faced intense cross-examination by advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, representing Chauke, about her role in withdrawing charges against Booysen and the unit. The inquiry was set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa after Batohi had written to him about Chauke’s role in two ongoing matters.
Read Full Article on Daily Maverick
[paywall]
The first was Chauke’s alleged role in the withdrawal of charges against former Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli, as well as the decision by the NPA to charge Booysen’s unit with racketeering and murder. On Friday, 12 December, Nkabinde adjourned the hearing early when Batohi admitted that she did not have a comprehensive grasp of the intricacies of the case.
[/paywall]
