Latest news with #Chauke
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Cyril Ramaphosa comes out swinging, suspends Andrew Chauke
President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andrew Chauke, with immediate effect. Image: Wikimedia Commons Home » Cyril Ramaphosa comes out swinging, suspends Andrew Chauke President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andrew Chauke, with immediate effect. Image: Wikimedia Commons President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andrew Chauke, with immediate effect, pending an inquiry into his fitness to hold office. In a statement on Monday evening, The Presidency said the suspension was effected in terms of Section 14(3) read with Section 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act. 'Having asked Adv Chauke to provide reasons why he should not be suspended, President Ramaphosa has decided suspension is the correct course of action pending an inquiry,' the Presidency said. The President has since informed Advocate Chauke of his decision in writing. Additionally, President Ramaphosa indicated that both the Presidency and the public would benefit from an independent assessment of the issues at hand, particularly where there are disputes of fact. He further expressed concern that Advocate Chauke's continued presence at the helm of prosecutions in South Gauteng, while serious accusations are levelled against him, could negatively affect the reputation of the NPA as a whole. 'President Ramaphosa is also concerned that Adv Chauke will not be able to fulfil his functions optimally while facing an inquiry,' the Presidency said. This decision follows prolonged concerns regarding Advocate Chauke's conduct in critical cases and represented a significant step toward restoring public trust in the NPA. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Top Gauteng prosecutor suspended: Ramaphosa moves to fix NPA
President Cyril Ramaphosa's suspension of the South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Advocate Andrew Chauke, has garnered praise online. The suspension comes after years of mounting calls for Chauke's removal. It will take effect immediately pending an inquiry into his fitness to hold office. The decision is in terms of section 14(3) read with 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act. In a statement, Ramaphosa said he informed Chauke of his decision and shared that the public would benefit from an independent assessment of the issues. He believes that if Chauke continues his duties while facing an inquiry, it would negatively affect the NPA's reputation. The president also expressed concern that Chauke would not be able to fulfil his functions optimally while facing an inquiry. ActionSA, which had previously called for Chauke's removal after the NPA withdrew charges against former Minister Zizi Kodwa, welcomed the move. The party labelled Chauke 'Joburg's king of public prosecutions,' criticising what it sees as a failure to pursue high-profile corruption cases. ActionSA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip described the suspension as long overdue but cautioned that it was just one step toward broader reform. Chauke, appointed by former President Jacob Zuma in 2011, has been a controversial figure. In 2023, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi recommended his precautionary suspension following the withdrawal of charges against former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli. Chauke dismissed the recommendation, accusing Batohi of bowing to pressure from certain factions. 'It is quite clear that she acts to appease and satisfy particular groupings within society,' he said at the time. His suspension comes just a month after Batohi faced criticism from several political parties for comments made before Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). During the session, she stated that the NPA had been infiltrated by bad elements. However, she later retracted her remark. 'I said that perhaps there are people within the NPA who are not aligned with the leadership's vision of upholding the rule of law,' Batohi clarified. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa suspends South Gauteng prosecutions head Andrew Chauke
President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke with immediate effect pending an inquiry into Chauke's fitness to hold office. The Witness reports that this suspension comes in terms of section 14(3) read with 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act 32 of 1998. A statement by The Presidency yesterday said that after having asked Chauke to provide reasons why he should not be suspended, Ramaphosa decided that suspension is the correct course of action pending an inquiry. 'President Ramaphosa has informed Adv Chauke of his decision in writing and indicated that the President and the public would benefit from an independent assessment of issues that require elucidation and on which there are disputes of fact,' reads the statement. The statement added that Ramaphosa believes that Chauke's continued tenure as director of Public Prosecutions – while facing serious accusations – would negatively affect the reputation of the National Prosecuting Authority as a whole. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa suspends Gauteng prosecuting head Andrew Chauke
Ramaphosa asked Chauke to provide reasons why he should not be suspended. President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke with immediate effect pending an inquiry into his fitness to hold office. On Monday night, the Presidency said Ramaphosa took the decision in terms of section 14(3) read with 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act. Reasons 'Having asked Advocate Chauke to provide reasons why he should not be suspended, President Ramaphosa has decided suspension is the correct course of action pending an inquiry,' said Ramphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya. 'President Ramaphosa has informed Advocate Chauke of his decision in writing and indicated that the President and the public would benefit from an independent assessment of issues that require elucidation and on which there are disputes of fact'. ALSO READ: Police minister Mchunu 'now under criminal investigation' Accusations Magwenya said Ramaphosa believes Chauke's 'continued tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions – while facing serious accusations – would negatively affect the reputation of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as a whole.' 'President Ramaphosa is also concerned that Adv Chauke will not be able to fulfil his functions optimally while facing an inquiry'. Shamilla Batohi The Citizen previously reported that National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Shamila Batohi told Chauke that she was writing to Ramaphosa after demanding answers from Chauke, on various decisions he made, or allegedly made, so that she could decide what to do about it, and him. Batohi questioned Chauke on his apparent initial reluctance to prosecute former president Jacob Zuma's son Duduzane for culpable homicide despite a magistrate having found there was prima facie evidence that Duduzane may have been negligent when losing control of his Porsche and crashing into a taxi in 2014. A Zimbabwean woman died and three people were left injured. Batohi also questioned Chauke on why former police crime intelligence head Richard Mdluli was not prosecuted on a murder charge related to the 1999 shooting death of Oupa Ramogibe, who had an affair with Mdluli's customary wife. NOW READ: Ramaphosa fires Nobuhle Nkabane, appoints new higher education minister
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Joy as Limpopo welcomes back initiates
The Limpopo Initiation Coordinating Committee hailed this year's initiation season as a success, despite deaths and several challenges. Jubilation is the order of the day in Limpopo as more than 500 initiation schools end their academic year in the province's five regions. Since 27 June, a total of 529 initiation schools, comprising 322 male and 208 female schools enrolled thousands of initiates in the Sekhukhune, Mopani, Waterberg, Vhembe and Capricorn districts. The schools closed on Friday evening and Saturday morning to allow initiates time to heal at home before going back to school next week. Speaking to The Citizen, chairman of the Limpopo Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee [PICC], Hosi Mudabula Chauke, hailed this year's initiation season a success, despite deaths and several challenges. 'We have had two deaths, one in Moutse in the Dennilton area and the other in the Maake area outside Tzaneen,' said Chauke. Forced initiations Chauke reflected on 21 initiates being rushed to a local hospital in the Burgenburg area. Five were treated and discharged a few hours later, while the remaining 16 were discharged and reunited with the other initiates at the same school a few days later. 'We have also experienced botched initiation schools, which were later shut down. As if that was not enough, we have also experienced incidents where some people were abducted and initiated forcefully. 'This is a disturbing trend which is disallowed. Criminal cases were opened, the suspects were arrested and are now facing various criminal charges in different courts across the province,' said Chauke. ALSO READ: Traditional healer among three arrested for coercing initiation 'I can't believe my son is now a man' Meanwhile, thousands of parents of the initiates, relatives, schoolmates and friends are waiting with bated breath for their graduations tonight. Chickens have been slaughtered, long queues at butcheries have become the order of the day, while braai places, open spaces and sports grounds are ready to accommodate revellers to welcome the graduates. One jubilant mother from N'wamitwa in the Letsitele area, Patience Ngobeni, said she can't wait to welcome her son back home. 'I am a single mother. My husband died seven years ago. When my son went to the mountain school, I had to borrow money from good Samaritans to pay for his fees. Now he is coming back tomorrow morning and I have prepared his favourite meal. 'I can't believe my son is now a man,' she said with tears of joy sliding down her cheeks. Another resident, Phetola Lebea of Ga-Molepo, said he is throwing a party to welcome his son. 'It has been three weeks without him. But I am happy when he comes back. He will be respectful, well-mannered and responsible because they taught him well at the mountain school,' said Lebea. The Kgoshi Tshwale Initiation School of the Maeteko clan in Jokoni near Giyani outnumbers many schools in Limpopo. The school often initates around 5 000 students in one season. The chief, Norman Tshwale, promised an ocean of booze, mouthwatering meals, music, and dance during the graduation celebration at his palace in the Mopani district municipal area on Friday night. NOW READ: Deputy Minister Mathabatha goes to initiation school at age of 68
