Kamogelo Moichela|Published7 hours agoWatch VideoSecret meetings and witness flights: Inside the alleged plot to bring down SA’s top cops

The Madlanga Commission has heard explosive testimony alleging that secret meetings, private emails, a witness flight and questionable investigative tactics formed part of a coordinated effort targeting National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo. Secret meetings, private emails, witness flights and an alleged “clean up” strategy formed part of what the Madlanga Commission heard was a coordinated effort to remove National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo from office. Damaging testimony before the commission painted a picture of an alleged behind-the-scenes operation involving formerInvestigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnsonand Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

According to evidence presented by IDAC State Advocate Drushantha Ramsamy, the campaign extended far beyond criminal investigations and allegedly involved political coordination, prosecutorial decisions and investigative tactics aimed at top cops. The investigators behind the cases were Dylan Perumal and Brian Padayachee. Ramsamy testified thatJohnson attended private meetings at Mchunu’s residencein January 2025 despite initially (Johnson) denying that they had met.

During those meetings, she alleged, discussions centred on a plan to “clean up” the South African Police Service (SAPS), with Crime Intelligence identified as a primary target. The commission also heard allegations that Mchunu flew a key witness in a Crime Intelligence procurement probe from Pretoria to the Eastern Cape for consultations with investigators. Ramsamy testified that prosecutors were not informed beforehand, raising concerns about possible political interference in an ongoing criminal investigation.

[paywall]

Among the most serious allegations was testimony thatJohnsoninstructed investigators to withhold details of an active Crime Intelligence probe from Masemola before his scheduled appearance before Parliament. Ramsamy toldthe commission the instruction was to “let him lie”, with the alleged intention of allowing Masemolato unknowingly provide inaccurate information before lawmakers, creating grounds for a possible perjury prosecution. The inquiry further heard that Masemola was later added as a co-accused in the R228-million Medicare24 corruption case.

[/paywall]