MK Party lays criminal charges against ex‑IDAC head Andrea Johnson over alleged perjury

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has opened a criminal case against former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson, accusing her of perjury and defeating the ends of justice.

Case opened at Brooklyn Police Station

Speaking on the sidelines of Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria on Monday, MK Party MP David Skosana said the party had formally opened charges against Johnson after alleging she gave conflicting evidence to two separate forums.

“As you know, uMkhonto weSizwe made a statement in Parliament at the ad hoc committee to say that we were going to open a case against Advocate Johnson. Indeed, we’ve opened a case today at Brooklyn Police Station,” Skosana said.

Allegations of contradictory testimony

The party alleges Johnson provided different versions of events to Parliament’s ad hoc committee and to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Skosana said this amounted to perjury.

“You’d remember that Advocate Johnson gave different statements at the ad hoc committee. She said something, and at the Madlanga Commission she said something (else). That’s what we call perjury.”

Skosana also said the MK Party had opened a charge of defeating the ends of justice and said it expected law‑enforcement agencies to act.

“So a case of perjury has been made here at Brooklyn Police Station, and the issue of defeating the ends of justice, and we hope that the law enforcement agencies will do what they are supposed to do,” he said.

Context and prior complaints

Skosana referenced earlier complaints the party had lodged at the same police station and named previous cases it had opened there.

“If you remember well, this is the same police station where we opened a case against Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and Minister Senzo Mchunu. ”We are happy that the police followed those matters and they were attended to, and we hope this one involving Advocate Johnson, the former IDAC boss, will also be followed,” Skosana said.

He said the MK Party expected public institutions to be held accountable and framed the action as part of the party’s approach to accountability.

“As uMkhonto weSizwe Party, we need all institutions to account. It’s not like in the Sixth Administration. ”In the Seventh Administration, we made sure that there is accountability, and I think our actions speak louder than volume. ”We are a party that wants everyone, and South Africans as well, to know that taxpayers’ money should not go in vain,” he said.

Admissions and scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission

The charges follow Johnson’s testimony before the Madlanga Commission, where questions were raised about differences between her evidence there and her earlier testimony to Parliament’s ad hoc committee.

During the proceedings, Johnson conceded that parts of her evidence to the committee were incorrect. ANC MP Xola Nqola later informed members of the ad hoc committee that Johnson had acknowledged she had misled the committee.

At the commission, Johnson was questioned about IDAC’s investigation into senior Crime Intelligence officials, including the basis for the probe involving suspended Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo and the role of National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams’ complaint.

Johnson conceded that IDAC had no legal basis to investigate Khumalo in the matter linked to Brigadier Dineo Mokwele’s appointment and acknowledged that the unit was not authorised to solicit complaints from members of the public in relation to how Adams’ Section 27 affidavit became the basis of the investigation. She also faced questions about IDAC’s handling of matters involving suspended Crime Intelligence deputy head Major General Feroz Khan.

Johnson denied political interference, rejected allegations that she was part of a so‑called “Khan‑IDAC cabal”, and invoked her constitutional right against self‑incrimination on certain questions relating to Khan.

Resignation

The scrutiny surrounding her testimony preceded Johnson’s resignation as IDAC head, which President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted.

What the MK Party has done

• Laid criminal charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice against Andrea Johnson at Brooklyn Police Station.
• Called on law‑enforcement agencies to investigate the matter.

This article is based on reporting from IOL.