PRETORIA - The testimony of National Prosecutions boss Shamila Batohi has sharpened the focus of the Nkabinde Enquiry.
She's dug into questions and given clarity on jurisdiction and prosecutorial powers.
These issues sit at the heart of the defence of suspended Gauteng prosecutions director, Andrew Chauke.
Batohi says when she took office, she noticed the credibility of the National Prosecuting Authority had been dented.
She was faced with serious allegations against its previous leadership.
Many of those allegations were linked to the Johan Booysen case.
The former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head was charged with racketeering, charges Batohi reversed.
She highlighted why it was important for the NPA to carry out its duties without interference.
Batohi has been unpacking the rules of the NPA, answering tough questions about whether a Director of Public Prosecutions can make decisions outside their province, and whether a new NDPP can overturn decisions made by a predecessor.
She told the panel that jurisdiction is clear: A DPP cannot take prosecutorial decisions in another province, a point that directly challenges Chauke’s defence that former NDPP Mxolisi Nxasana influenced decisions in the Booysen matter.
Batohi’s testimony has set the stage for a deeper legal debate and her evidence continues on Friday.
- eNCA reporter Nabeelah Shaikh reports.