Former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson came under sustained pressure at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday as commissioners repeatedly questioned her about the basis on which she authorised investigations into the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), exposing apparent inconsistencies in her evidence.
One of the most difficult moments of the day came when the commission asked Johnson a direct question: “Why were you investigating the PKTT? What was IDAC’s interest in the PKTT?”
Johnson appeared unable to provide a clear answer. She repeatedly attempted to explain the circumstances surrounding the investigation but struggled to directly address the commission’s concerns. As the exchanges continued, the commission adjourned for lunch, giving her time to return later and respond to the questions.
Earlier in the proceedings, Johnson was also unable to provide what the commission regarded as a reasonable explanation for signing a summons authorising an investigation into the PKTT while saying she was unaware that the specialised unit had already been disbanded by suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
The commission also challenged Johnson over a summons she had authorised requesting promotion records relating to members of the Political Killings Task Team, despite her evidence that she had not been aware of specific allegations involving the unit.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga questioned how she could have approved such an important legal document without fully understanding its contents.
“You could not possibly have signed the summons that we are discussing without having gone through it line by line, sentence by sentence,” Madlanga told Johnson.
His questioning focused on her responsibility in reviewing and approving the summons before signing it and sought to establish the level of scrutiny she had applied before authorising the investigation.
Johnson’s appearance before the commission follows several days of intense questioning into IDAC’s handling of investigations involving senior Crime Intelligence officials and the Political Killings Task Team. The commission has been examining whether the directorate acted within its legal mandate when launching certain investigations and issuing summonses.
Before the lunch adjournment, Johnson made an emotional request to the commission, pleading that the questioning be concluded on Tuesday so that she could return to vacate her office after her role at IDAC was terminated.
Amid her continued struggles to answer questions from the commissioners, Johnson appealed for mercy, referring to her unemployment and asking that Tuesday be her final appearance before the commission.
Her testimony comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted her resignation as head of IDAC, bringing an end to her tenure at the anti-corruption directorate. Despite her resignation, she remains a key witness before the commission because of questions surrounding investigations initiated under her leadership.
The Madlanga Commission is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’s law enforcement and criminal justice institutions. Johnson’s testimony has become central to the inquiry’s examination of whether IDAC lawfully exercised its investigative powers and whether sufficient oversight was applied before sensitive investigations were authorised.
Proceedings were expected to resume after the lunch break, with commissioners likely to continue probing Johnson’s decisions surrounding the PKTT investigation and the summons she personally approved.
