The head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Advocate Andrea Johnson, has become the ninth witness to delay her testimony due to health issues.
Her sudden absence disrupted the Madlanga Commission inquiry’s tight schedule just as she was set to face intensive questioning regarding allegations of improper conduct and interference involving suspended Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan in 2018.
The commission was informed that she had been rushed to hospital just before the proceedings on Monday morning.
The commission’s chair retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga openly condemned the submitted medical certificate calling it “useless” because it provided absolutely no descriptive information about the medical condition.
This last-minute medical postponement continues a trend of witnesses falling ill just before they are scheduled to testify at the inquiry.
This is despite the commission earlier this year warning that it may subpoena the treating medical doctors to testify under oath regarding the authenticity and severity of witnesses’ conditions.
The commission said it was also considering forwarding questionable medical certificates to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for a professional review.
The Commission noted this is a recurring issue with multiple witnesses. Other figures, including Brown Mogotsi, Witness F and Suliman Carrim, have similarly used ‘vague medical excuses’ to stall proceedings.
This also included Mike van Wyk, Khan, Fannie Nkosi and General Dumisani Khumalo.
Mogotsi
The political fixer submitted a medical certificate claiming he was unfit to testify. Justice Madlanga labeled the note “useless” due to its sparse detail. Mogotsi eventually returned to complete his testimony in May 2026.
Witness F (unnamed intelligence officer)
A Gauteng organised crime and criminal intelligence officer failed to appear after being admitted to a hospital, which delayed his scheduled testimony. His hospitalisation followed a last-minute, North Gauteng High Court application aimed at blocking his testimony and suppressing sensitive WhatsApp messages.
Carrim
The North West businessman had his April 22, 2026 appearance deferred after he was hospitalised following what he believed was a heart attack at a gym. He was rushed to the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, though his legal team later clarified that the emergency was due to another undisclosed medical issue rather than a heart attack.
Van Wyk
The CEO of Medicare24 requested a postponement in June 2026 after his legal team stated he was consulting a psychiatrist following severe panic attacks.
Khan
The suspended Deputy Crime Intelligence head’s scheduled appearance for July 1, 2026, was postponed after he was reportedly rushed to the hospital in critical condition following a shooting in Houghton on June 29.
Nkosi
The detective attached to the office of suspended SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, was admitted to the hospital in February 2026, forcing the commission to temporarily defer his appearance. Nkosi has been implicated as an alleged middleman between Sibiya and crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat”Matlala.
Khumalo
The Crime Intelligence boss fell ill abruptly during proceedings, resulting in a sudden adjournment of the inquiry. At the time of his illness, Khumalo was mid-testimony, delivering explosive evidence regarding alleged ties between organized crime cartels, prominent businessmen, and high-ranking political figures.
Legal expert Vuyo Manisi said the doctors who issue questionable medical certificates could face criminal charges as such conduct amounts to fraud. Manisi said such doctors could also be suspended.
He added that the commission should also follow the court’s approach in launching an inquiry to ascertain the legitimacy of the sick note.
“The issuing doctor may be subpoenaed to confirm the diagnosis under oath. The courts may appoint their own independent medical practitioners to examine the witness and verify their fitness to testify. This happened in the case of Angelo Agrizzi, the former BOSASA employee. Because of the numerous delays and the state’s desire to verify his true condition, the court and the NPA appointed an independent pulmonologist to examine Agrizzi and ascertain if he was truly fit to stand trial,” said Manisi.
The report confirmed that Agrizzi suffered from severe hypoventilation syndrome, a disorder that heavily impacts normal breathing. He was also found to be permanently dependent on 24/7 supplementary oxygen therapy to survive.
Another legal expert, Advocate Paul Hoffman said doctors who are found to have issued questionable medical certificates should be held liable for fraud, adding that this amounts to fraudulent certificates.
“Fraudulent certificates attract criminal consequences because the person is deliberately seeking to mislead people.”
