‘No reason to doubt’ – Why Andrea Johnson signed Khumalo summons

IDAC Head Andrea Johnson testifies at the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee inquiry into alleged corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system at Good Hope Chambers on November 06, 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach. It was yet another day of concessions from the head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac), Andrea Johnson, whose testimony at the Madlanga commission continues to expose process lapses at the institution.

Johnson returned to the commission on Monday to respond to allegations that Idac unlawfully operates outside of its mandate and that it pursued a criminal case against Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and other officials atCrime Intelligence. Last Thursday, Johnson had to make several admissions after the commission established that she had provided contradictory statements at the ad hoc committee and the Madlanga commission. She explained that the testimonies contradicted each other because she did not recall some details when she appeared before the ad hoc committee.

She said she and her team did not prepare as vigorously for the ad hoc committee as they did for the Madlanga committee. On Monday, the commission had to take a break after establishing that there were contradictions in the documentsJohnsonfiled on Sunday night and Monday morning and those already at the commission. “We have to update the exhibit files because we could potentially have documents contradicting the very documents she has filed,” said evidence leader Mahlape Sello.

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Her legal representative said she too was “shocked” to learn that thedocuments were contradictory. The commission continued to zoom in on the summons issued to investigate Crime Intelligence officials for allegedly manipulating security vetting processes, which resulted in the unlawful issuing of security clearances in favour of personnel within Crime Intelligence. The summons, which Johnson signed on 6 February 2025, was issued based on the affidavit obtained from National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader Fadiel Adams.

“At the time you signed these summons, what evidence did Idac have to even conclude that there had been manipulation of security vetting processes and unlawful issuing of security clearances in favour of anyone within Crime Intelligence?” Asked Sello. “According to me, it would have had to have been the Section 27 referral, and it would have had to have been the supplementary affidavits that had been taken in January of 2025,” responded Johnson.

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