National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi had withdrawn racketeering charges against former Hawks general Johan Booysen and several current and ex-officers.

A panel comprised of advocates Rodney de Kock, Ivy Thenga, Shareen Riley and Elijah Mamabolo reviewed the decisions by former National Prosecuting Authority heads Nomgcobo Jiba and Shaun Abrahams to prosecute the officers for contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, the prosecuting authority said in a statement on Tuesday.

The NPA said a series of other charges, including murder, housebreaking and defeating the ends of justice will be referred back to the acting DPP in KwaZulu-Natal to decide whether to prosecute the "individuals who may be implicated in those matters".

The charges relate to the actions of a unit of the police based in Cato Manor.