Audio bombshell sparks Madlanga frenzy

News24 headlined its report: “‘They’re going to make our names s**’: Recording reveals Johnson’s Madlanga fears”, whileDaily Maverickled with: “‘It’s going to be a shtshow’ — Andrea Johnson allegedly advises witness to flee.” SABC News reported: “Audio reveals Johnson urged Ramsamy to leave SA if called to testify”, while Eyewitness News carried the headline: “Madlanga Commission hears how Johnson allegedly tried to devise plan to stop Ramsamy from testifying.” Among the recorded comments that went viral were: “If they call you, you’ll leave the country”; “I didn’t know Section 28, I didn’t know Section 27, I know nothing. I was dumb as two bricks”; and “We’re all going to see what’s going to happen. It’s going to be a sh*tshow.” The recordings, presented by Idac prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy, formed the centrepiece of a week dominated by allegations of procedural failures, workplace intimidation and internal conflict within the anti-corruption unit.

Johnson, who spent six days testifying before the commission, resigned as head of Idac this week after President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted her request to leave with immediate effect. She has now been summoned to return to the commission to respond to Ramsamy’s allegations. In the private telephone conversations, Johnson criticised the commissioners’ conduct and admitted she had struggled under questioning before the commission and felt she appeared to know little about key legal provisions governing Idac’s work.

The recordings were played a day after Johnson concluded her testimony and formed part of Ramsamy’s explosive evidence against her former superior. Ramsamy accused Johnson of repeatedly disregarding Idac’s standard operating procedures, making inconsistent decisions after consulting chief investigator Dylan Perumal, and fostering a hostile working environment.