The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has announced it will formally lay perjury charges against the Head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Advocate Andrea Johnson, and former National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi. The decision follows testimony by Advocate Johnson at the Madlanga Commission in July 2026, where she conceded that she misled a parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee during earlier appearances.
Discrepancies And Official Admissions
The controversy stems from testimony provided to the Ad Hoc Committee in 2025 by both Johnson and Batohi. During the Madlanga Commission proceedings, ANC MP Xola Nqola highlighted that the IDAC head had admitted to providing inaccurate information regarding her communications with the office of a government Minister.
As we speak here in the Ad Hoc Committee, the head of IDAC is giving testimony on the statement she delivered to the committee. She has just conceded that she misled the committee. The entire statement and questions that we asked in the committee are being flighted there and she has conceded.
When questioned on these discrepancies, Advocate Johnson stated that her previous testimony regarding a lack of recall was flawed. She told the commission: “I did not recall remembering. Not recall remembering, that’s stupid English. I did not recall receiving that from the office of the Minister.”
Legal And Political Implications
Under South African law, providing false information under oath to a parliamentary committee constitutes a criminal offence. The MK Party’s move to pursue charges reflects its ongoing strategy to challenge the credibility and procedural conduct of state law enforcement agencies.
It remains unclear whether the South African Police Service (SAPS) or the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will formalise an investigation based on these allegations. The findings of the Madlanga Commission, which continues to examine the operations and conduct within the IDAC, are expected to influence future legal and parliamentary responses to these developments.