Witness says Johnson set Masemola up to mislead Parliament, inquiry told
Former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head Andrea Johnson allegedly kept National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola in the dark about an...
Former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head Andrea Johnson allegedly kept National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola in the dark about an active probe and then allowed him to walk into Parliament uninformed. A witness told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Tuesday that the move was deliberate.
Drushantha Ramsamy testified that Johnson directed her team not to tell Masemola about the investigation, setting up a situation in which he could face lawmakers without the full picture. The evidence adds another sharp twist to an inquiry already examining conduct inside South Africa’s law-enforcement and anti-corruption structures.
Witness alleges a deliberate trap
Ramsamy said Johnson’s instructions were meant to ensure Masemola was not briefed before appearing before the Portfolio Committee on Policing. He described the approach as a strategy to leave the police commissioner exposed when he spoke in Parliament.
According to the testimony, some members of the committee — Adams, James and Cameron — were aware of aspects of the investigation. The commission heard that the matter involved an IDAC probe that Johnson’s office was handling at the time.
The allegations were aired during a hearing in Pretoria on 5 August 2026. Ramsamy read from his statement and told the commission that Johnson had been explicit about keeping Masemola uninformed.
What the testimony could mean
The claim places fresh pressure on Johnson and raises questions about how sensitive investigations were managed before parliamentary appearances. It also puts Masemola at the center of a dispute over who knew what, and when.
The Madlanga Commission, sitting in Pretoria, has been taking evidence on a range of issues tied to policing and corruption. Tuesday’s testimony pushed the inquiry deeper into questions about disclosure, internal coordination and the handling of a high-profile police leader.
The commission is expected to continue hearing evidence on the alleged concealment and the roles of those named in the testimony.
