Head of Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Advocate Andrea Johnson on Thursday disputed claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that one of her investigators was not qualified for the job.

Testifying at the parliamentary inquiry, Johnson said the assertion that Brian Padayachee has no investigating experience and nobody knew what he was doing was incorrect.

“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 the arrest of Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and six other officers on corruption charges related to the alleged irregular appointment of a senior officer.

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

Giving her evidence on Thursday, Johnson said the assertion that Padayachee was allowed access to Crime Intelligence documents was incorrect.

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.

She said Padayachee called Mkhwanazi to notify him when he was in KwaZulu-Natal to conduct investigations, and they would even meet and exchange WhatsApp messages.

 “I am not sure what went wrong.”

Responding to Mkhwanazi’s claim that he did not know what Padayachee was doing at IDAC, Johnson said he had found him at the entity and had been recruited by her predecessor, Herman Cronje.

“He remained at IDAC. He did undergo detective courses. He has conducted several investigations in his time in SAPS. He was not only at Crime Intelligence.”

Earlier in her evidence, 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 from July 7, 2009, when the Directorate of Special Operations (popularly known as Scorpions) was disbanded,” she said.

Mkhwanazi had told the inquiry in his evidence 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 Khumalo.

Asked about allegations that she and her husband shared information, Johnson dismissed the suggestion.

“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.”

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 stated 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 persons 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.

She indicated that in the more than 20 years of their marriage, she did not know where her husband’s office was.

“People are entitled to their opinions, albeit they are untrue and unfounded.”

When she later testified about criminal matters that were under investigation by IDAC, Arendse jokingly reminded her that her husband worked there.

In response, Johnson said if he did wrong, there were consequences.

“One of things I am not prepared to compromise is my integrity and oath, not even for my husband.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

Source link