Des Erasmus
President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Andrea Johnson’s request to leave office immediately, ending her tenure after days of contentious testimony before the Madlanga Commission and with an inquiry into her fitness to hold office looming.
The Presidency said on Monday that Ramaphosa had agreed to Johnson vacating her position under section 12(8)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act.
The decision followed a recommendation from Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi — who has said she would seek Johnson’s suspension pending an inquiry into her fitness to hold office — supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions Andy Mothibi, that Johnson’s request be granted.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has in terms of section 12(8)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998 accepted the request by Adv Andrea Johnson, the Investigating Director of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), to vacate office with immediate effect,” the Presidency said.
Johnson wrote to Ramaphosa and Mothibi over the weekend asking to be released within 24 hours and for the three-month notice period in her contract to be waived, Inside Politics reported on Sunday.
READ: IDAC head Johnson asks to leave office within 24 hours
She said in the letter that the previous five months had been particularly difficult and that attacks against her personally and in her official capacity had increased because of IDAC investigations involving senior Crime Intelligence officials.
Johnson’s departure follows severe criticism of her professional actions and evidence before the Madlanga Commission.
She faced questions about her relationship with suspended Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan, IDAC’s investigations into senior police officials and alleged inconsistencies between her commission testimony and evidence previously given to Parliament.
Johnson invoked her constitutional right against self-incrimination when questioned about allegations that she obtained information from a police docket involving Khan and allowed confidential information to reach him. She denied improperly sharing information with Khan and rejected claims that she was part of a so-called “Khan-IDAC cabal”.
The commission heard allegations from retired Hawks Colonel Kobus Roelofse and Captain Mark McLean that Johnson had improperly obtained and disclosed information relating to a criminal complaint against Khan.
Johnson said that insufficient particulars had been provided about the allegations and said her claim of privilege should be considered where questions could expose her to criminal liability.
Johnson was also challenged over differences between her testimony before Parliament’s ad hoc committee and her evidence to the commission concerning National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams, a referral made under section 27 of the NPA Act and the manner in which IDAC obtained police dockets.
She acknowledged that parts of her parliamentary evidence were incorrect, attributing the discrepancies to memory lapses and insufficient preparation before her appearance.
The criticism again increased after Johnson apologised for previously describing the appointment of Crime Intelligence Technical Support Services head Brigadier Dineo Mokwele as a “token appointment”.
She conceded under questioning that she had not read Mokwele’s curriculum vitae, job application or the advertisement for the position before making statements about her suitability for the job.
Johnson was appointed to lead the NPA’s Investigating Directorate from 1 March, 2022, before the unit was converted into the permanent Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
The Presidency thanked Johnson for her service but did not address the allegations or name an acting head or successor.
“The President assures the leadership and staff of the NPA of government’s unwavering support for its work in the fight against crime and corruption,” the presidency said.
INSIDE POLITICS
