IDAC authorised charges against Brigadier Dineo Mokwele without checking her qualifications, advocate admits

Advocate Andrea Johnson of the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) told the Madlanga Commission she authorised the prosecution of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele without reviewing Mokwele’s job application or academic record. Johnson said she had relied on information from her investigative team when she signed the prosecution memorandum that led to Mokwele’s arrest in June last year.

What the commission heard

At the commission, the inquiry was shown Mokwele’s academic record, which includes a National Diploma in Mechatronics Engineering, a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and evidence that she is studying towards a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Johnson conceded she had not personally examined those qualifications before approving charges alleging Mokwele had fraudulently secured her appointment.

Admission under questioning

Under questioning from Co‑Commissioner Sandile Khumalo, Johnson was asked, “Do you know what her qualifications are?” She replied,

“Not all her qualifications, no.”

Khumalo then asked how she could make a sworn statement declaring Mokwele unsuitable for the position without first establishing what qualifications she actually possessed.

Basis for the charges

The prosecution’s case alleged Mokwele had not been qualified for the post of head of Crime Intelligence’s Technical Support Services unit and had therefore fraudulently secured her appointment. Johnson told the commission she had relied on briefings from her team and acknowledged the facts she received were incorrect:

“I relied on the briefing from my team. The facts I received then were incorrect.”

Recruitment context and defence

Evidence before the commission showed the Technical Support Services post required advanced technical expertise and had been advertised three times before a suitable candidate was found. Mokwele, a former BMW mechatronics engineer with no policing background, was appointed to the role and awarded the rank of brigadier.

When Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant‑General Dumisani Khumalo testified, he defended Mokwele’s appointment and rank, saying the role demanded rare technical skills and that few applicants met the required standard.

Legal status and next steps

Mokwele, Khumalo and several other officials were arrested by IDAC in June last year and charged with fraud and corruption linked to her appointment. They are out on bail and have asked the National Prosecuting Authority to review the investigation.

Commission reactions

Co‑Commissioner Khumalo criticised IDAC’s handling of the investigation, saying the directorate had misled the courts and failed to properly consider available evidence before pursuing serious criminal charges. Johnson also withdrew an earlier characterisation of Mokwele’s appointment as a “token appointment,” acknowledging that description was wrong.