The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has intensified its campaign for legal accountability by demanding that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) immediately reinstate criminal charges against Mr Johan Booysen and members of the notorious Cator Manor Unit.
In a pointed media statement released on April 13, 2026, the party confirmed it has dispatched a formal letter to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Rodney (Andy) Mothibi, characterising the unit's pas actions as systematic extrajudicial killings that have long plagued KwaZulu-Natal.
Allegations of prosecutorial dereliction
The MK Party's demand centers on the controversial 2019 decision by former NDPP Advocate Shamila Batohi to withdraw charges against the unit. The party alleges that this descision constituted a shocking dereliction of duty, citing testimony from the ongoing Nkabinde Inquiry which suggests the prosecution was dropped without a thorough review of the evidence.
According to the party, Advocate Batohi conceded to not familiarising herself with the core evidence, including dockets, indictments, and expert ballistics reports, and failed to consult with the victims' families or the original prosecution team.
Historical context and constitutional mandate
The party maintains that the Cator Manor killings were not isolated incidents but represent a pattern of police conduct traceable back to the final days of apartheid. They argued that the continued failure to prosecute these matters undermines the South African Constitution, specifically violating the rights to equality before the law, human dignity, and life.
The MK Party stated firmly that the prosecutorial mandate is a solemn constitutional duty that cannot be deferred, labeling the previous withdrawal of charges a travesty of justice that shielded alleged murderers in police uniforms.
Seven-day deadline and legal action
In an escalation of pressure, the MK Party has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Advocate Mothibi to re-evaluate the matter based on the full evidence and reinstate the charges. They are further demanding written confirmation that any subsequent decision is made independently and solely on the merits of the case.
Having already initiated review proceedings in the High Court, the party warned that it will utilise every available parliamentary and judicial avenue to ensure accountability, asserting that the era of selective prosecution for rogue elements within the security cluster must come to an end.