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ActionSA welcomes the eventual and long overdue suspension of the dodgy South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Chauke, following our sustained pressure on the President to stop dragging his feet and act against Chauke who sits at the centre of several maliciously botched prosecutions. 

ActionSA first raised the alarm in November last year after it was revealed that the President had failed to act against Chauke despite receiving a request for his suspension as far back as August 2023 from NPA Director, Advocate Shamila Batohi.

ActionSA was particularly disturbed by Chauke’s continued role, given that he has presided over a litany of questionable decisions including the withdrawal of charges against former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, the pursuit of the discredited Cato Manor case against General Johan Booysen, and the irrational withdrawal of corruption charges against ANC MP Zizi Kodwa based on vague “representations” which the NPA is now reviewing.

It is plain for all to see that Chauke’s conduct reflected a clear pattern that raised serious concerns about his impartiality and fitness to hold such an important prosecutorial office, concerns evidently shared by the NDPP herself. While the suspension is welcomed, ActionSA cannot reconcile the fact that President Ramaphosa dragged his feet for nearly two years on such a critical matter, only to announce his decision in the dead of night, a clear indication of willful prevarication that continues to hamper efforts to fix the already emasculated NPA.

ActionSA believes this is but only one step in the right direction, if we are to truly fix the rot within our criminal justice system, we face a long and difficult road ahead, especially if decisions and such action continues to be delayed in this manner.

Issued by ActionSA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip