Former head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Advocate Andrea Johnson, has faced intense questioning at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry regarding the decision to join suspended National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to a high-profile corruption trial. Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga challenged the logic of grouping Masemola, who faces only Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) contraventions, with other accused individuals charged with fraud and corruption linked to a R360 million Medicare24 contract.
Allegations Of Orchestrated Attacks
State Advocate Drushantha Ramsamy testified before the commission that Johnson and senior investigator Dylan Perumal allegedly misused IDAC’s investigative tools to target senior police officials. Ramsamy claimed that the team deliberately withheld information from Masemola regarding an active investigation to ensure he would unknowingly mislead Parliament’s portfolio committee, potentially setting him up for perjury.
He will definitely be prejudiced in a trial that lumps him together with these other accused who are charged with fraud and corruption, both of which he is not charged with.
Ramsamy further alleged that Johnson and Perumal had “launched an orchestrated attack on General Masemola and Lieutenant General Khumalo using IDAC’s powerful investigation tools.”
Admission Of Procedural Errors
Under cross-examination, Johnson conceded that the decision to join Masemola with the Medicare24 corruption accused was flawed. She acknowledged the procedural overreach but denied any underlying motive to maliciously embarrass the commissioner.
I accept that this matter should be separated, but at no stage was there an intention to embarrass.
The commission continues to review whether IDAC’s internal processes were compromised by improper decision-making during Johnson’s tenure. The desk will provide further updates as the commission releases its findings on the conduct of the prosecution team.
Status: Verified by official transcripts and testimony at the Madlanga Commission. The desk will check for further developments on August 5, 2026.