Nkabinde Inquiry rejects Batohi’s ‘disdainful’ bid to explain unfinished testimony

Des Erasmus

The Nkabinde Inquiry has dismissed former prosecutions’ boss Shamila Batohi’s bid to place written submissions on record, accusing her of trying to introduce a “curated, untested, self-justifying narrative” after she refused to complete cross-examination in the fitness inquiry into South Gauteng prosecutions head Andrew Chauke.

In a ruling that repeatedly and bluntly faulted Batohi’s conduct, issued on Friday, the panel said Batohi, who was a witness and not a party to the proceedings, had attempted to place material before the inquiry “through a back door” after previously failing to have her reasons for not returning to the witness stand read into the record.

“This inexplicable tactic is extraordinary. It offends the principles of procedural law. If this is not a display of a disdainful attitude toward the Panel, it is not clear what it is!” the ruling said.

The inquiry said Batohi “had petitioned the Panel for leave