JOHANNESBURG - Ntuthuzelo Vanara, the lawyer who made headlines during South Africa’s State Capture era, is taking on a new role at the centre of the country’s fight against corruption.
Vanara has been appointed Acting Head of the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), replacing Andrea Johnson, who resigned in July.
He has spent more than 25 years working in public service, serving at various state institutions and in Parliament.
But it was in 2017 that he rose to national prominence.
As Evidence Leader for Parliament’s Eskom State Capture Committee, Vanara became a prominent figure in the investigation into allegations of corruption and state capture at the power utility.
During the inquiry, he made a serious allegation against then-State Security Minister Bongani Bongo, accusing him of offering a “blank cheque” in an attempt to derail the investigation.
He currently serves as the Special Investigating Unit’s Chief Legal Counsel.
Vanara will join IDAC on secondment and assumes his new responsibilities with immediate effect.
His appointment comes at a critical time for South Africa’s anti-corruption efforts, placing a familiar figure from the State Capture era at the forefront of the country’s fight against corruption.
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