The Madlanga Commission has heard that former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Head Advocate Andrea Johnson’s claim that the IDAC operations manual was just a draft was misleading, as evidence shows that it was approved, signed, and distributed to IDAC staff.
The said document, which guides standard operating procedures for the unit designed to fight high-level corruption, is significant because evidence suggests that IDAC’s handling of Crime Intelligence matters allegedly was unlawful and did not follow procedure.
As the Madlanga Commission continues to advance on allegations surrounding IDAC’s handling of Crime Intelligence matters, new questions continue to mount for Advocate Johnson.
This is as the latest witness to take the stand has given evidence that challenges Johnson’s assertion that the IDAC manual (which standardises its operations) was merely a draft.
Evidence Leader Adv Thabang Pooe: To the extent that Advocate Johnson testified that the manual was just a draft, she would have been misleading this commission. Well at its lightest, she would have lied to this commission.
IDAC Head of Investigations and Operations Matthews Sesoko: I don’t understand why she said that. The manual was signed by myself and her and at her instruction, it was distributed to all IDAC staff.
The commission has heard evidence that IDAC’s probe into Crime Intelligence matters were allegedly geared towards targeting high-ranking generals, that is Crime Intelligence boss, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and top cop, General Fannie Masemola, at all costs.
Such costs allegedly also meant deviations from the prescripts, which included alleged unlawful conduct which was flagged to Sesoko but he did not do anything about it.
Co-Commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo: Because you did not do anything, it looks like you were part of the problem, you were part of the reason why the manual was not followed to the letter.
Sesoko: Chair, I will take responsibility for that.
This, however, does not answer the question of where the head of investigations was when “poorly investigated” matters were allegedly rushed to court when they were allegedly not ready for enrollment.
Co-Commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC: You are head of investigations, it seems to me. You should know what is happening in investigations. So, that rule, if it is a rule in the workplace, should it not be applying to head of investigations because you need to be able to speak to the investigations that are happening in the organisation?
Sesoko: That is correct, commissioner, and in most matters that is what happened, as I said, this was an exception.
The hearings continue on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 at 9:30am.
VIDEO | Madlanga Commission of Inquiry proceedings on 06 August 2026:
