Arrests Made on Friday Morning
The pair were arrested on Friday morning, 30 October, and are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
According to eNCA, the arrest warrants were authorised on Thursday. The broadcaster reported that the two face charges relating to defeating the ends of justice.
Police spokesperson Colonel Amanda van Wyk confirmed that a former South African Police Service (SAPS) employee and a former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) employee, both aged 56, had been arrested.
Silverton Assault Case at the Centre of the Investigation
Van Wyk said the investigation relates to an assault case opened by a woman at the Silverton police station after she sustained injuries.
“Investigation so far has revealed that one of the suspects, the female suspect, a former National Prosecuting Authority employee at the time, had interfered with the particular case that was reported at Silverton,” she said, according to The Citizen.
The case centres on allegations that Johnson, while working as an NPA prosecutor, provided Khan with information from a criminal docket relating to an assault complaint against him.
Crime Intelligence officer Brigadier Leonora Phetlhe had accused Khan of assault and intimidation. Retired Hawks Colonel Kobus Roelofse told the Madlanga Commission in July that Johnson allegedly arranged for information from the case docket to be sent to Khan before he submitted his warning statement.
The information allegedly gave Khan an opportunity to prepare his response with knowledge of the evidence against him.
Madlanga Commission Fallout
Johnson later appeared before the Madlanga Commission, where she invoked her right against self-incrimination when questioned about the alleged disclosure. She said the allegations were contained in a docket before the NPA for a decision on whether she should be prosecuted.
Johnson resigned as head of IDAC in July after facing scrutiny over her conduct and the directorate’s work during the commission hearings. President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted her resignation.
Khan was dismissed from the police service after failing to appear before the designated senior officer overseeing an expedited disciplinary process.
The commission also heard evidence about the personal relationship between Johnson and Khan, which came under scrutiny alongside the allegations concerning the assault-case docket.
More Arrests Not Ruled Out
Police have not ruled out further arrests as investigators continue examining the matter.
“At this stage, we cannot rule out any further arrests as the investigation uncovers more information,” Van Wyk said.
She added that investigators were confident in the evidence gathered so far.
NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana confirmed that Johnson’s matter would be heard in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
The arrests mark a further development in a matter that has drawn national attention during the Madlanga Commission’s investigation into alleged corruption and interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system.