President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the immediate resignation of Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson, bringing an end to her tenure as the head of the National Prosecuting Authority’s specialist anti corruption unit as she continues to face scrutiny over evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The Presidency announced on Monday that Ramaphosa, acting in terms of Section 12(8)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, had agreed to Johnson’s request to vacate office with immediate effect.
According to the Presidency, the decision followed a recommendation by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, which was supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Andy Mothibi.
Johnson had addressed her request for an immediate release from office directly to both Mothibi and President Ramaphosa.
In a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa thanked Johnson for her years of service to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and for leading IDAC.
“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,” Magwenya said.
Johnson’s resignation comes after weeks of intense public scrutiny linked to her testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within law enforcement agencies.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and NDPP Mothibi reportedly met with Johnson after concerns were raised over evidence presented to the commission relating to the operations of IDAC.
Among the allegations before the commission are claims that Johnson improperly forwarded the contents of an assault docket involving senior Crime Intelligence official Major General Feroz Khan to him in 2018. Questions have also been raised about IDAC’s prosecution of Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo and other officials.
Johnson was expected to return to the commission on Monday to continue her testimony.
In her resignation letter addressed to Mothibi and President Ramaphosa, Johnson described the decision as “difficult”, saying she had an “absolute love and commitment” to her role as Investigating Director.
She said the previous five months had been particularly challenging, with unprecedented attacks directed at both her personally and in her official capacity.
Johnson stated that much of the criticism stemmed from IDAC’s prosecution of Crime Intelligence officials and that the controversy had generated significant negative attention for both IDAC and the NPA.
She wrote that the ongoing scrutiny did not sit well with her after 30 years of service to the NPA, adding that she did not want to become the reason for reputational damage to either institution.
Johnson also acknowledged that the allegations against her had yet to be proven, but argued that any process to determine her fitness to hold office would likely require another commission of inquiry, which she said would be both expensive and time consuming.
She further noted that South Africa remains under monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), saying IDAC plays an important role in the country’s efforts to address deficiencies identified by the global anti money laundering watchdog.
Johnson warned that prolonged uncertainty surrounding her position could negatively affect those efforts.
She also referred to previous disciplinary proceedings involving senior NPA officials, including Advocate Chauke, saying such processes had placed the institution under public scrutiny and incurred substantial costs before the official ultimately returned to work.
Johnson revealed in her letter that she had already applied for retirement, noting that she is 55 years old and will turn 56 next month.
However, she said she had become concerned that approval of her retirement could become the subject of legal challenges involving both the President’s office and that of the NDPP.
To avoid further litigation and disruption, Johnson requested that her resignation be accepted immediately and that the contractual three month notice period be waived.
She proposed leaving office within 24 hours by mutual agreement.
Johnson also cited previous instances where senior NPA officials had been permitted to leave office without serving notice, arguing that colleagues of similar rank had received comparable treatment.
In closing her letter, she thanked President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to serve as Investigating Director, saying she remained indebted to the President, the country and the NPA for the trust placed in her.
Her departure leaves a vacancy at the helm of IDAC, the specialised directorate established within the NPA to investigate and prosecute complex corruption and state capture related crimes. The Presidency has not yet announced arrangements for an acting head or the process to appoint a permanent successor.
