South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke has been cleared of all allegations and reinstated to his position following a comprehensive inquiry. The decision was announced after retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde submitted her findings to President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this month. The inquiry concluded that there were no grounds to remove Chauke from office, clearing the way for his return to duty. Chauke had been on paid suspension since July 20, 2025, during which time he remained under investigation. His suspension followed a request from former National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi, who had raised concerns about the withdrawal of several State Capture-related prosecutions and broader issues with the performance of the South Gauteng office. The Presidency had previously suspended Chauke, citing the potential risk to public confidence in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) if he continued in office amid serious allegations. Throughout the past two years, Chauke has faced repeated accusations of shielding politically connected individuals from prosecution. Critics have claimed that he delayed or obstructed numerous high-profile corruption cases, allegations that formed a core part of the inquiry's examination. Among the specific matters scrutinized were claims that Chauke delayed prosecutions related to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), interfered in a long-running R1.2 billion corruption case involving former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa, and refused to prosecute former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli on murder-related charges. Additionally, Chauke was criticized for authorizing racketeering charges against former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen and members of the Cato Manor organized crime unit. Critics argued that these charges lacked sufficient evidence. During the inquiry, which took place in Pretoria over several months, senior prosecutors, including Batohi, provided extensive testimony. In her evidence, Batohi accused Chauke of overstepping his prosecutorial authority and suggested that his actions in the Booysen case were politically motivated. She also stated that there was a strong prima facie case against Mdluli, which Chauke allegedly did not pursue, while pushing forward with the Booysen prosecution despite weak evidence. Chauke denied all the allegations. However, in December 2025, Batohi unexpectedly terminated her testimony and refused to continue with cross-examination without further consultation. This move drew criticism from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, which questioned the transparency and thoroughness of the process. Despite the controversy surrounding the inquiry, the final report from Justice Nkabinde has resulted in Chauke being deemed fit to resume his duties. The reinstatement marks the end of a prolonged period of scrutiny and political tension within the NPA. As the situation moves forward, attention will likely shift toward the implications of this decision for the integrity and functioning of the prosecutorial body.
4 reports
IOL (Independent Online)Party-alignedCenter4 hr. agoAndrew Chauke, the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, has been cleared to resume his duties after being suspended for nearly a year. The decision followed an inquiry led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde, whose findings concluded there were no grounds for the allegations against him. Chauke was placed on suspension in July 2025 at the request of former National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi, who raised concerns about his handling of several high-profile corruption cases, including those related to Prasa, the R1.2 billion corruption case involving Brian Hlongwa, and the prosecution of Richard Mdluli. During the inquiry, Batohi testified that Chauke exceeded his authority and acted politically in certain cases, but Chauke denied these allegations. The inquiry heard testimony from multiple senior prosecutors before concluding that Chauke should be allowed to return to his position.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the findings of an independent inquiry into allegations against Andrew Chauke, detailing both the accusations made by former prosecutor Shamila Batohi and Chauke's denial of them. It includes testimony from multiple sources and does not exhibit clear bias toward either side, nor
News24IndependentCenter6 hr. agoThe article reports that an inquiry has cleared Andrew Chauke of certain claims, with him being recognized as the doctor for the South African Junior Springboks team. The headline positions this clearance as a notable event among 'Today’s top 7 stories,' suggesting it is considered significant news. However, the provided text is brief and lacks detailed information about the nature of the claims, the inquiry process, or broader implications. The focus appears to be on sports-related news, specifically involving rugby and medical personnel.
Bias read (Center): The subject matter relates to sports and does not involve politically charged topics such as government, elections, or public policy. As such, there is no discernible political leaning in the framing of the story.
IOL (Independent Online)Party-alignedCenter7 hr. ago Andrew Chauke Cleared After Batohi’s Challenge to His Fitness for OfficeSouth African prosecutor Andrew Chauke has been cleared of misconduct following an inquiry into his fitness for office, ending a nearly two-year suspension. The inquiry, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Baaitse Nkabinde, concluded that Chauke is fit to resume his role as South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions. The investigation looked into allegations that Chauke delayed or obstructed high-profile corruption cases, including those related to Prasa, the R1.2 billion corruption case involving Brian Hlongwa, and the prosecution of Richard Mdluli. Former National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi raised concerns about these actions, accusing Chauke of politically motivated decisions and failing to pursue strong cases. However, Chauke denied the allegations, and the inquiry ultimately ruled in his favor.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the allegations made by Shamila Batohi and the findings of the inquiry that cleared Andrew Chauke. It does not exhibit overtly biased language or one-sided sourcing, providing a balanced account of the situation without taking a clear stance on whether Chauke is guilty or无辜
IOL (Independent Online)Party-alignedCenter8 hr. ago Andrew Chauke reinstated after inquiry clears him from Shamila Batohi accusationsSouth African prosecutor Andrew Chauke has been cleared of misconduct by an inquiry and is set to return to his role as the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions. The inquiry, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Baaitse Nkabinde, concluded that Chauke did not commit wrongdoing, ending his nearly two-year suspension. The investigation looked into allegations that Chauke delayed or obstructed high-profile corruption cases, including those related to Prasa, the R1.2 billion corruption case involving Brian Hlongwa, and the prosecution of Richard Mdluli. Retired prosecutor Shamila Batohi, who initially called for Chauke's removal, testified against him but later stopped giving evidence, prompting criticism from lawmakers. Chauke denied all allegations.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both the allegations against Chauke and his denial of them, citing testimony from Batohi and other sources. It does not favor one side over the other and provides balanced information about the inquiry's findings and criticisms from lawmakers.
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