Public Interest SA Condemns Apparent Abuse of Power within IDAC and Alarming Inaction by the NPA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pretoria, South Africa. Thursday, 26 March 2026 — Public Interest SA expresses profound concern at what increasingly appears to be a troubling pattern of selective prosecution and institutional overreach within the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), under the leadership of advocate Andrea Johnson.

Recent developments involving the summons issued to the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, mark a deeply unsettling moment for South Africa’s criminal justice system. While accountability in public administration is both necessary and non-negotiable, it must be pursued within the bounds of consistency, fairness, and the rule of law.

In this instance, General Masemola is reportedly being called to answer to charges under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), notwithstanding the absence of any allegations of corruption, bribery, or collusion.

More concerning still is that this prosecution appears to proceed in circumstances where there has been:

• no finding of financial misconduct by the relevant Executive Authority; and

• no adverse findings by oversight bodies, including the Auditor-General, SCOPA, or the relevant Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.

If such a prosecutorial approach were to be applied uniformly, a significant portion of the public service would presently be before the courts. The selective nature of this action raises legitimate concerns about the equitable application of the law and the potential misuse of prosecutorial discretion.

Public Interest SA is particularly troubled by the broader institutional context in which this matter arises. As detailed in our formal complaint and request for inquiry submitted to National Director of Public Prosecutions advocate Andy Mothibi and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Johnson has herself admitted, under oath, to conduct that raises serious ethical and legal concerns, particularly in relation to conflict-of-interest principles and the failure to recuse herself in circumstances warranting such action.

Despite the gravity of these issues, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the DOJ have, to date, failed to respond meaningfully to these representations. This silence is untenable. It undermines public confidence and creates the perception of a dual standard — one for those subjected to prosecution, and another for those entrusted with prosecutorial authority.

The integrity of the criminal justice system depends not only on the pursuit of wrongdoing but also on the unimpeachable conduct of those who wield prosecutorial power.

Where credible allegations of wrongdoing or ethical breaches arise at senior levels, they must be addressed with urgency, transparency, and decisiveness.

It bears recalling that President Cyril Ramaphosa recently mandated General Masemola to establish a task team to investigate and, where appropriate, institute charges against individuals implicated in wrongdoing before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Against this backdrop, it is both striking and deeply concerning that those identified for possible malfeasance related to the healthcare services contract in question — including suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, Divisional Commissioner for Supply Chain Management, Lieutenant General Molefe Fani, Major General Lesetja Senona, and others alleged to be aligned to a SAPS network associated with advocate Johnson’s husband — have yet to face any charges.

The apparent dissonance between the aggressive prosecution of certain officials and the inertia in addressing serious complaints against the leadership of IDAC raises a fundamental question: are state institutions being deployed in a manner that serves justice, or are they being instrumentalised for ulterior purposes?

Public Interest SA reiterates its call for:

1. An independent and transparent inquiry into the conduct and fitness for office of advocate Andrea Johnson;

2. Her precautionary suspension pending the outcome of such an inquiry; and

3. A clear and substantive response from the NPA regarding the complaints that have been formally lodged.

At stake is not merely the reputation of individuals, but the credibility of South Africa’s entire criminal justice system. The rule of law cannot coexist with selective accountability or perceived impunity at the highest levels of authority.

Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA said: "Mr President, you entrusted General Masemola with the critical responsibility of confronting corruption exposed at the Madlanga Commission. It is imperative that he be allowed to execute this mandate without interference or distraction.

The fight against entrenched corruption within our institutions — particularly within SAPS and the broader criminal justice system — cannot be derailed by factional interests or destabilising forces. South Africa needs resolute leadership that protects those tasked with cleaning up the system, not one that allows them to be undermined at the moment their work matters most.”

Public Interest SA remains committed to defending institutional integrity, promoting ethical governance, and ensuring that justice is administered without fear, favour, or prejudice.

END

Issued by: Public Interest SA NPC