President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the deadline of the inquiry chaired by Justice Bess Nkabinde into the fitness of Advocate Andrew Chauke to hold the office of Director of Public Prosecutions. The extension was sought after endless stalling caused by witness delays and outgoing head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Shamila Batohi’s surprise walkout in December. While the inquiry was due to wrap up on 30 January 2026, the new date set for finalisation is 30 June.
Nkabinde made the announcement on Thursday. After her walkout, Batohi refused to continue her cross-examination without legal representation. The inquiry was established in September 2025 by the president at her insistence, and was sluggish out of the starting gates.
Chaukeis accused of allegedly interfering in the prosecutions of former KwaZulu-Natal head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) Johan Booysen, and former Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli. Batohi leaves office on Monday when new NPA head, advocate Andy Mothibi, begins his term. Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, appearing for Chauke, informed the panel on Thursday, 29 January, that former KwaZulu-Natal prosecutor, advocate Moipone Noko, would indeed be willing to testify.
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Earlier in the week evidence leaders advocates Themba Skosana and David Mohlamonyane had explained that some witnesses lined up in the Cato Manor matter had “collapsed”. This included Noko, whom they claimed had failed to respond to communication from the team. However, Ngcukaitobi said that Noko had contacted him afterwards disputing this and had offered to testify.
Noko has been accused by Booysen of withdrawing charges against former president Jacob Zuma family associate Thoshan Panday and his co-accused Colonel Navin Madhoe. She resigned in 2o21 after being transferred to North West province. Nkabinde, assisted by advocate Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere and attorney Matshego Ramagaga, heard that another witness, advocate Shareen Riley, had still not submitted a statement. Riley, who was part of a panel of advocates appointed by Batohi and including Rodney de Kock and Ivy Thenga, had not responded to requests for a statement, the panel heard.
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