Madlanga Inquiry: Former IDAC Head Admits Political Killings Probe Outside Legal Mandate
Former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson has made another significant concession before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged that the investigation into the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) did not fall within IDAC’s statutory mandate.
The concession follows Johnson’s earlier admission that some investigations undertaken by IDAC extended beyond the unit’s legal mandate.
Her latest evidence is expected to form an important part of the commission’s assessment of whether IDAC consistently operated within its legally conferred powers, and whether appropriate oversight was exercised when initiating high-profile investigations.
These concessions have intensified scrutiny of IDAC’s investigative approach and decision-making processes.
While some observers argue that these admissions raise questions about whether certain investigations were initiated without proper legal authority, the Madlanga Commission has not yet reached its final conclusions.
The commission will ultimately determine what weight to attach to Johnson’s testimony, with IDAC investigators expected to testify in upcoming proceedings.
At the commission, evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello followed up with Johnson regarding several outstanding documents requested by the inquiry.
Johnson told the commission that, since stepping down as head of IDAC, she has found it difficult to obtain documents in the way she previously could.
She referred the commission to the current head of investigations, Mathews Sesoko, who is now responsible for facilitating access to the requested files.
Johnson outlined some of the IDAC cases concerning SAPS investigators, mentioning the Valerie, Mokwele, Khumalo, Madondo, and Langlaagte matters as cases that would have fallen within the inquiry’s scope.
Johnson was then asked how it was the business of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) that former Police Minister Bheki Cele had appointed General Dumsani Khumalo without a proper interview process.
Johnson clarified that the complaint centered on the appointment process itself, rather than the vetting procedure.
Advocate Sesi Baloyi noted that this issue fell under IPID’s mandate to investigate, and asked if it had been probed.
Johnson replied that she did not know, adding that to date, she remains unaware of what happened.
When Baloyi asked why Johnson did not probe the matter, Johnson replied that it formed part of the authorisation of the investigation.
Baloyi countered that this was the single allegation that actually fell within IDAC’s mandate, if it held any merit.
Baloyi remarked that it was curious that IDAC ignored the one allegation within its mandate while pursuing other allegations that completely lacked legal authority.
Questioning this misdirection, Baloyi stated it could not be a mere oversight. Instead, she argued, it suggested that the issue was either inconvenient or intentionally excluded from the focus of the affidavit.
