“Pillow talk” gets people killed, says IDAC head

INDEPENDENT Directorate Against Corruption head (IDAC) Advocate Andrea Johnson has dismissed claims that she and her husband, employed at SAPS’ Crime Intelligence, exchanged information.  

“I know for some it might be 'you've got to be kidding, girl'. It really is. I really hold my oath of office and integrity very important,” Johnson told MPs at the Parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations of capture of the criminal justice system.

Mkhwanazi had told the inquiry that it was coincidental that the husband of the IDAC head worked for Crime Intelligence. Former minister Bheki Cele had also told the inquiry that Johnson’s husband works at Crime Intelligence and was not friends with Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo.

Earlier in her testimony, Chief Evidence Leader Advocate Norman Arendse asked Johnson whether her husband was employed at IDAC.

“My husband is at Crime Intelligence and he has been since July 7, 2009, when the Directorate of Special Operations (popularly known as Scorpions) was disbanded,” she said.

She also said when she became head of IDAC, there were corruption matters that were under investigation at Crime Intelligence.

“My husband was very mindful. We had a conversation about 'do what you need to do'.  That's always been how it has been. I don’t need information from Mr Johnson. Mr Johnson has information to give. I would not ask him for information.”

She said that “pillow talk” gets people killed.

“That is something we have never done. That's just been it. I know it may sound like a glib answer. It is the true answer. If that is how you operate, you don’t have to worry about a comeback.”

Johnson also said it was natural human nature for people to think one plus one makes two.

“Unfortunately, it does not. We don’t ask Mr Johnson for any information. He did not share any information. He won't share any information,” she said.

Johnson also disputed Mkhwanazi’s claims that one of her investigators Brian Padayachee was not qualified for the job.

“He has the requisite experience and has been part of IDAC since 2021, when I took over in March 2022, conducting investigations as part of various teams,” she said.

During his testimony last month, Mkhwanazi asked the inquiry to look into Padayachee, whom he said was a former Crime Intelligence officer, who never touched a case docket.

Padayachee was apparently involved in Khumalo’s arrest  on corruption charges related to the alleged irregular appointment of a senior officer.

Mkhwanazi also accused Padayachee of having access to Crime Intelligence documents.

Johnson disputed this. She said IDAC followed a process of issuing a subpoena to National Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

“No one was allowed to go to Crime Intelligence and engage personally or take any documents.”

Johnson also said IDAC investigators would inform the provincial commissioners when they are engaging police officers in their respective provinces as potential witnesses.

Cape Times