Madlanga Commission Hears Testimony on Alleged Idac Procedural Failures and Political Interference
2 sources · South Africa
Who reported this
- Daily Maverick
- Mail & Guardian
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- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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The Madlanga Commission heard testimony on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, from Idac prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy regarding allegations that the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) bypassed legal protocols to target high ranking police officials. Ramsamy testified that former Idac head Andrea Johnson authorized an investigation into national police commissioner Fannie Masemola regarding a R360 million Medicare24 contract without the required Section 27 complaint referral. According to Ramsamy, investigator Dylan Perumal instructed the preparation of an authorization to investigate despite the absence of a complainant, and that the investigation appeared to be a fishing expedition designed to sideline top police leadership.
The testimony also highlighted the role of then police minister Senzo Mchunu. Ramsamy alleged that Mchunu violated protocol by sharing a confidential report from the Inspector General of Intelligence (IGI) with Dylan Perumal. This report, which the Madlanga Commission itself does not have official access to, concerned procurement irregularities in Crime Intelligence and the hiring of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele. Ramsamy stated that Mchunu arranged for the report to be flown to Perumal in the Eastern Cape, who then shared it via WhatsApp. This followed a January 2025 meeting between Mchunu and Andrea Johnson, after which Johnson reportedly stated that the minister wanted to clean SAPS and Crime Intelligence.
Further tensions were revealed regarding the IGI. Ramsamy testified that during a January 2025 meeting, IGI legal representative Jayashree Govender refused to share ongoing investigation details, calling Dylan Perumal's approach cowboy tactics. Perumal allegedly became agitated and wanted Govender arrested for her refusal. While Mchunu has denied involvement in factional wars within Crime Intelligence, President Cyril Ramaphosa recently accepted Andrea Johnson's immediate resignation after she failed to defend Idac's decisions to prosecute Crime Intelligence leaders.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- Both sources from this lean focus on the breach of official protocols and the potential orchestration of a campaign to sideline police leadership.
Sources
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