President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the immediate resignation of Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Adv Andrea Johnson, bringing an abrupt end to her tenure amid mounting pressure following her testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
The Presidency announced on Monday that Ramaphosa had approved Johnson’s request to vacate office with immediate effect after receiving a recommendation from Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Adv Andy Mothibi.
Johnson had written to both Mothibi and Ramaphosa over the weekend asking to be released from office immediately and requesting that her contractual three-month notice period be waived.
In a statement, the Presidency said Ramaphosa had thanked Johnson for her years of service to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and for leading IDAC.
“The President assures the leadership and staff of the NPA of government’s unwavering support for its work in the fight against crime and corruption,” the Presidency said.
Johnson’s departure comes a day after the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) called for her resignation to be accepted without delay, while insisting that her exit should not shield her from accountability for admissions she made before the Madlanga Commission.
In a statement issued by General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, the federation said the focus should no longer be on Johnson’s decision to leave office but on ensuring accountability for the evidence she presented under oath.
“The issue before the country is no longer whether Ms Johnson intends to leave office. She has made that decision. The real issue now is accountability,” SAFTU said.
The federation argued that Johnson’s testimony exposed serious shortcomings within IDAC, raising concerns about the handling of corruption investigations, prosecutorial strategy, institutional failures and the effectiveness of one of South Africa’s key anti-corruption bodies.
SAFTU said corruption had devastated public finances, weakened service delivery, destroyed jobs and deepened poverty, unemployment and inequality, making accountability essential.
“Resignation must not become an escape route from accountability,” the federation said.
It called for the full implementation of the Madlanga Commission’s findings and recommendations, a comprehensive investigation into matters arising from Johnson’s testimony, stronger parliamentary oversight over IDAC and the broader NPA, and the appointment of a new IDAC head through a transparent process based on integrity, competence and independence.
SAFTU also urged authorities to ensure the swift prosecution of all individuals implicated in corruption where sufficient evidence exists.
Johnson’s resignation follows months of controversy surrounding her leadership and her evidence before the Madlanga Commission, where issues relating to the functioning of IDAC came under scrutiny.
Her immediate departure now clears the way for the appointment of new leadership at the anti-corruption unit, while calls continue to grow for broader reforms within South Africa’s prosecutorial and anti-corruption institutions