By: Noluthando Mchunu
Former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, has withdrawn from the Nkabinde Inquiry.
She submitted a statement to the commission on Thursday, indicating that she would not continue her testimony after the panel refused her request to consult her legal team during proceedings.
Batohi’s legal representatives had argued that the complexity and potential implications of the inquiry warranted ongoing consultation.
The inquiry is probing suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke’s role in cases linked to the Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit, as well as decisions involving former crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli.
These matters have long been controversial, with allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and political interference.
Batohi’s withdrawal came as Thursday’s proceedings were delayed by an electrical fault, further disrupting the commission’s schedule.
The Nkabinde Inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde, is expected to conclude its work by 30 June 2026. Its findings could have significant implications for accountability within the National Prosecuting Authority.
In a related development, the MK Party recently failed in an urgent application before the Gauteng High Court to block Batohi’s pension payout, which had been challenged amid the same misconduct allegations under scrutiny in the inquiry.
