President Cyril Ramaphosa has cleared Gauteng South Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke to return to workplace after a year-long suspension, accepting an impartial inquiry’s findings that there was no credible proof he acted unlawfully within the Cato Manor prosecutions or improperly exercised his prosecutorial powers.
In a assertion on Wednesday, the presidency mentioned Ramaphosa had knowledgeable Chauke that he had been exonerated by the Nkabinde Panel of Enquiry, which was appointed to find out whether or not he remained match and correct to carry workplace following critical allegations regarding his conduct as one of many nation’s most senior prosecutors.
The inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Courtroom justice Baaitse Elizabeth Nkabinde, discovered there was “no credible proof” that Chauke had improperly taken prosecutorial choices in relation to the Cato Manor matter or acted unlawfully in finishing up his coordination capabilities.
In his letter informing Chauke of the result, Ramaphosa mentioned the panel had additionally discovered there was proof to assist the establishment of racketeering costs in opposition to former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Main Normal Johan Booysen and members of the Cato Manor Unit, one of many prosecutorial choices examined through the inquiry.
The panel additional discovered that Chauke’s determination to provisionally withdraw the homicide and associated costs in opposition to former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli and as a substitute refer the matter to an inquest “was not irrational”.
In line with Ramaphosa’s letter, the panel discovered there was no direct or credible proof that Chauke had breached the Structure, the Nationwide Prosecuting Authority Act, the prosecution coverage or different relevant authorized prescripts, or that he had did not train his prosecutorial discretion correctly in finishing up his duties.
Chauke has been on suspension since 20 July 2025, when Ramaphosa suspended him pending the result of the inquiry. The president formally established the inquiry in September 2025 underneath part 12(6)(a) of the Nationwide Prosecuting Authority Act.
In his letter, Ramaphosa mentioned he had fastidiously thought-about the panel’s report and accepted its findings and suggestions.
“I’m glad that the allegations in opposition to you haven’t been substantiated by the proof introduced earlier than the enquiry,” the president wrote.
The inquiry was established after allegations that Chauke had improperly dealt with prosecutions linked to the Cato Manor police unit and the provisional withdrawal of homicide costs in opposition to Mdluli, elevating questions on whether or not he remained match to carry workplace.
“In view of those and different findings that exonerate Adv Chauke, President Ramaphosa is glad that there is no such thing as a foundation upon which to conclude that Adv Chauke is unfit to carry workplace as Director of Public Prosecutions,” the presidency mentioned.
In his letter, Ramaphosa famous that the panel had submitted its report back to him on 1 July after contemplating intensive oral and documentary proof, skilled opinions, witness statements and authorized submissions.
All through the inquiry, Chauke maintained that he had acted lawfully, that most of the choices underneath scrutiny had been taken collectively or underneath the authority of successive nationwide administrators of public prosecutions and that he had not exceeded his powers.
Ramaphosa thanked Chauke for his cooperation through the inquiry and mentioned he trusted that the conclusion of the method would permit him to proceed discharging his constitutional and statutory obligations “with dedication and integrity in service of the Nationwide Prosecuting Authority and the nation”.
The president additionally thanked Nkabinde and fellow panel members advocate Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere SC and legal professional Matshego Ramagaga for his or her work.
