The Madlanga Commission on Thursday heard explosive testimony that repeated internal complaints about alleged misconduct inside the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) reached the office of former National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi, but staff believed nothing was done.
The revelation came from Idac’s head of investigations and operations, Matthew Sesoko, who told the Section 84 presidential fact-finding body that the organisation’s operational manual was not merely a draft, as former Idac head Advocate Andrea Johnson had testified, but a formally adopted document binding on every employee, including Johnson herself.
Sesoko said the manual followed an extensive consultative process before it was signed by himself and Johnson in October 2024 and implemented throughout the directorate.
First version consultative draft
“The first version was a consultative draft leading to the signing in October 2024, where it took effect,” he testified.
He said every employee was expected to comply with its provisions.
The commission then turned to evidence heard over recent weeks from Idac prosecutors and investigators who claimed the manual was repeatedly ignored during controversial Crime Intelligence investigations.
Sesoko conceded he knew about complaints that colleagues were raising over alleged deviations from the manual.
Although he never personally approached then NDPP Shamila Batohi, he said he knew numerous complaints had already landed on her desk.
“I personally did not report, but I was informed that there were a number of complaints that were referred to the office of the former NDPP,” he told commissioners.
‘I have been through a lot’
He explained why he never followed suit.
“I have been through a lot. When some of these happen and you hear that there were reports that were reported to the former NDPP and there was nothing that happened, I just felt that it won’t assist anyway.”
Commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo challenged him sharply.
His decision to remain silent, Khumalo suggested, made him “part of the problem.”
Sesoko accepted the criticism.
“I will take personal responsibility for that, but I have my own personal reasons,” he responded.
He said prosecutors and investigators frequently raised concerns directly with Johnson by email, often copying him into the correspondence.
Instead of welcoming the concerns, Sesoko said Johnson became irritated.
“She would indicate displeasure about how the colleagues raised these matters because she believed there was nothing wrong with how they were approaching the case,” he testified.
Read More: Prosecutor says Andrea Johnson could do no wrong in Shamila Batohi’s eyes
He added that when he discussed concerns with Idac chief investigator Dylan Perumal, they were dismissed as nothing more than differences of legal opinion.
According to Sesoko, one member of an investigation team was ultimately removed from a case after objecting to instructions relating to a docket.
The evidence adds to weeks of testimony before the commission from prosecutors and investigators who have described an environment where staff members allegedly faced intimidation, internal isolation and professional consequences for questioning investigative decisions.
The Madlanga Commission continues hearing evidence into the leadership and operational culture at Idac following the resignation of former head Advocate Andrea Johnson and the suspension of several senior investigators.
- Matthew Sesoko, Idac's head of investigations and operations, testified that the organisation's operational manual was formally adopted and binding on all employees since October 2024, contrary to former head Andrea Johnson’s claim it was only a draft.
- Sesoko stated he was aware of multiple complaints about alleged misconduct and deviations from the manual within Idac, which had reached former NDPP Shamila Batohi's office, but no action was taken.
- Sesoko admitted he did not personally report these issues to Batohi because previous reports had yielded no results, and he felt reporting would not help.
- Prosecutors and investigators frequently raised concerns directly with Johnson, who responded with irritation and dismissed objections as mere differences of legal opinion.
- Testimonies before the Madlanga Commission describe a workplace culture at Idac marked by intimidation, internal isolation, and professional repercussions for staff questioning investigative decisions.
Sesoko said the manual followed an extensive consultative process before it was signed by himself and Johnson in October 2024 and implemented throughout the directorate.
"
He said every employee was expected to comply with its provisions.
Sesoko conceded he knew about complaints that colleagues were raising over alleged deviations from the manual.
"I personally did not report, but I was informed that there were a number of complaints that were referred to the office of the former NDPP," he told commissioners.
He explained why he never followed suit.
"I have been through a lot. When some of these happen and you hear that there were reports that were reported to the former NDPP and there was nothing that happened, I just felt that it won't assist anyway."
Commissioner Advocate
His decision to remain silent,
Sesoko accepted the criticism.
"I will take personal responsibility for that, but I have my own personal reasons," he responded.
He said prosecutors and investigators frequently raised concerns directly with Johnson by email, often copying him into the correspondence.
Instead of welcoming the concerns, Sesoko said Johnson became irritated.
"
Read More: Prosecutor says
He added that when he discussed concerns with Idac chief investigator Dylan Perumal, they were dismissed as nothing more than differences of legal opinion.
