Prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy accused former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head, Advocate Andrea Johnson, of masterminding what she described as a coordinated campaign against National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and Crime Intelligence chief Lt-General Dumisani Khumalo.
Testifying at the Madlanga Commission on Thursday, Ramsamy alleged Johnson used IDAC’s investigative powers to drive cases that she believed fell outside the unit’s legal mandate.
She also accused Johnson of misleading the commission, concealing key facts and attempting to shift responsibility for controversial investigations onto her.
“I want to make it clear that advocate Johnson and Dylan Perumal launched an orchestrated attack on Masemola and Khumalo using IDAC’s powerful investigation tools, and this will become evident in my statement and testimony,” she said.
Her testimony directly challenged Johnson’s earlier evidence, in which the IDAC head distanced herself from several controversial decisions and suggested investigators and prosecutors, including Ramsamy, would need to explain why the directorate pursued the cases.
At the centre of the dispute are investigations involving senior police leaders, including corruption allegations against Khumalo and Public Finance Management Act charges against Masemola.
Johnson acknowledged during her testimony that both matters fell outside IDAC’s official mandate but maintained others were responsible for explaining why the cases proceeded.
Ramsamy rejected that account, insisting she repeatedly warned Johnson about the legal and factual weaknesses in several investigations, including the high-profile Brigadier Dineo Mokwele matter.
“She did not disclose that I raised concerns from the outset and repeatedly thereafter, which concerns I will deal with in detail,” Ramsamy said.
According to Ramsamy, Johnson misled the commission in several key respects:
– Johnson lied about not being in charge of Project Diversion
– Johnson presented a different version of MP Fadiel Adams’ Section 27 affidavit to the commission than the original document.
– Johnson falsely claimed that IDAC did not have or use standard operating procedures.
– Johnson misrepresented Ramsamy’s role in key decisions and attempted to use her as a scapegoat.
Ramsamy told the commission that despite her reservations about the Mokwele investigation, Johnson instructed her to proceed with the matter after a complaint was lodged by MP Fadiel Adams concerning Khumalo’s appointment of an allegedly unqualified civilian.
To support her claims, Ramsamy submitted a recording of a telephone conversation with Johnson dated July 22.
In the recording, Johnson can allegedly be heard saying, “We have to figure out a way for you not to go there,” in reference to appearing before the Madlanga Commission.
Johnson also allegedly warned that if Ramsamy testified, “it is going to be a sh*t show.”
Ramsamy further claimed she was instructed to prepare official documents that did not comply with IDAC’s standard operating procedures.
“I confirm that I prepared documents on advocate Johnson’s instruction that were not in accordance with IDAC’s standard operating procedure,” she testified.
She said Johnson directed her to urgently draft an authorisation under Section 28(13) for approval on December 6, 2024, despite her concerns about the merits of the case.
Ramsamy also disputed Johnson’s evidence regarding a letter requesting four police dockets from Major-General Mbuso Khumalo.
While Johnson told the commission the documents had been formally requested, Ramsamy said WhatsApp messages from December 2024 showed Johnson later instructed her to shred the letter.
Ramsamy is expected to return to the commission on Tuesday.
