The head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Andrea Johnson, retracted the defamatory speech and admitted that she called the appointment of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele a “token appointment” without seeing his qualifications, CV or what was required in accordance with his job application.
This admission immediately escalated the situation at Madlanga’s commission, where Johnson was forced to apologize and admit that his opinion was based on incomplete and incorrect information he had received from the investigators.
Johnson told the commission that he had authorized a thorough investigation into Mokwele’s appointment in 2024 to the Technical Support department under the police’s Crime Intelligence (SAPS), without personally examining documents that detailed his educational background and work experience. He also admitted that he did not know that Mokwele was studying for an MBA degree.
It just went viral when Advocate Sandile Khumalo asked Johnson how he was able to make such serious allegations without examining the evidence himself.
“He described the appointment of Mrs. Mokwele as ‘just the appointment of a name’,” said Khumalo. “It’s a wrong statement, since you haven’t seen his CV; you haven’t seen his qualifications.” Khumalo then told Johnson to withdraw the speech, describing it as a way of belittling someone whose qualifications were not properly examined. Johnson not only retracted the statement, but also apologized.
“I have to do more than just withdraw it,” he told the commission. “I must apologize for that speech.”
The commission then revealed Mokwele’s qualifications, revealing information that directly contradicted Johnson’s initial statement. Documents show he had 12 certifications that matched the requirements for the Crime Intelligence position he had applied for. Khumalo also highlighted Mokwele’s achievements in education, including degrees in industrial engineering and mechatronics, saying that his qualifications met — and in some cases exceeded what was required for the position he was not given. He said that the evidence presented a situation that was completely different from the initial opinion. “Before I saw these files, my impression was that Crime Intelligence appointed a BMW receptionist,” said Khumalo. “When I saw these files, it became clear to me that this person not only had the right qualifications, but his qualifications exceeded the requirements.”