Cyril Ramaphosa Clears Prosecutor Andrew Chauke of Misconduct

President Cyril Ramaphosa has exonerated Andrew Chauke, the Gauteng South Director of Public Prosecutions, clearing him of all allegations regarding his fitness to hold office. The decision follows the findings of the Nkabinde Panel of Enquiry, which Ramaphosa established on September 29, 2025. In a letter dated July 21, 2026, the president accepted the panel's recommendations and formally declared that Chauke is fit to resume his constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

The inquiry, chaired by retired Justice Baaitse Elizabeth Nkabinde, investigated claims that Chauke weaponized the National Prosecuting Authority to protect politically powerful figures. Specifically, the probe examined prosecutorial decisions concerning the Cato Manor matter and the provisional withdrawal of murder charges against former Crime Intelligence head General Richard Mdluli. The panel found no credible evidence that Chauke acted unlawfully or irrationally, noting that the decision to refer the Mdluli case to an inquest aligned with a Supreme Court of Appeal finding.

Chauke had been suspended and placed on special leave since July 20, 2025, after allegations were raised by former National Prosecuting Authority head Shamila Batohi. Batohi accused Chauke of making politically motivated decisions, including those involving former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Johan Booysen. However, Batohi withdrew from the inquiry in April 2026, describing the proceedings as hostile.