Ramaphosa appoints new panel member for Andrew Chauke inquiry

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a new member of the panel to conduct the inquiry into suspended director of public prosecutions (DPP), Johannesburg Advocate Andrew Chauke.

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

Attorney Matshego Ramagaga has replaced Thenjiwe Vilakazi as a member of the panel chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde and assisted by Advocate Elizabeth Baloyi-Mere SC. Ramaphosa made the change on Monday.

The panel is expected to inquire into, report on and make findings and/ or recommendations on a number of allegations against Chauke and his fitness to hold office as a prosecutor in the prosecutorial services, in particular, in the capacity as a DPP.

It will also look into his direct or indirect conduct relating to his fitness and propriety to hold office based on information including but not limited to matters related to various allegations.

These include the institution of the racketeering charges in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca) against KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Major-General Johan Booysen and members of the Cato Manor organised crime unit and the defence of those actions in subsequent review proceedings brought by Booysen to have the racketeering certificates set aside.