By Johnathan Paoli
The testimony of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Shamila Batohi opened on Wednesday, as she became the first witness to take the stand before the Nkabinde Inquiry into Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Advocate Andrew Chauke’s fitness to hold office.
The inquiry, led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde, follows Chauke’s suspension by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July after Batohi formally raised concerns about his prosecutorial decisions.
Batohi began her evidence by acknowledging the personal difficulty of the moment.
She told the panel that referring a senior colleague to such an inquiry was not an easy one to make, particularly because she had known Chauke for many years and the two had maintained a cordial, professional relationship.
But, she added pointedly, her constitutional obligations left no room for hesitation.
“As the National Director, I have a duty. A full hearing will be in
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