LISTEN | Andrea Johnson tells key witness to 'leave the country' if called to testify at Madlanga Commission
Former Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson is facing renewed scrutiny after the Madlanga Commission heard a cellphone recording in which she encourages State Advocate Drushanta Ramsamy to avoid testifying before the inquiry while also criticising the conduct of the commissioners.
The recording, played during Ramsamy's testimony on Thursday , captures a conversation between the two women on one of the days Johnson herself was giving evidence before the Commission.
Ramsamy was testifying about allegations that Johnson flouted legal processes during several IDAC investigations, including the controversial investigation into Crime Intelligence Technical Support head Lieutenant-General Dineo Mokwele.
Much of the conversation centres on questions Johnson anticipated from the Commission about how the names of suspects came to be included in an application for a Section 28(13) investigation.
Johnson repeatedly asks Ramsamy where the names came from, saying the Commission wanted answers.
"They need to know from me tomorrow... Where did I get these names? And I need to understand where did I get those names?"
Ramsamy responds that the names were contained on a page Johnson had given her and that Johnson had previously told her they followed consultations involving IDAC investigator Dylan and complainant Fadiel Adams.
Johnson says she needs to speak to Dylan before returning to the witness stand and asks Ramsamy to help her piece together the sequence of events.
Later in the conversation, Johnson expresses frustration with the Commission's questioning, saying Ramsamy should stop watching the proceedings because commissioners were scrutinising every aspect of her evidence.
She then tells Ramsamy: "If they call you, you leave the country."
Ramsamy responds: "Okay."
Johnson continues by suggesting Ramsamy distance herself from the investigation if she is called to testify.
"You didn't know Section 28, you didn't know Section 27, you know nothing."
The conversation also captures Johnson criticising the conduct of Commission Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and the commissioners.
"He makes faces, they laugh with each other while you're still answering. It's so unprofessional."
Johnson also laments the Commission's criticism of IDAC's understanding of the law after commissioners questioned aspects of her evidence and legal reasoning during her testimony.
The recording forms part of Ramsamy's evidence before the Commission, where she has challenged Johnson's version of events and alleged that the former IDAC head ignored repeated concerns about the legality of decisions taken during what was internally known as "Project Diversion."
