PRETORIA - Former Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) boss Andrea Johnson may have resigned, but Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi said this does not mean she won’t be held to account.
Kubayi was briefing the media on Thursday, where she provided an update on key developments in IDAC, while also ensuring stability within the directorate.
During the briefing, one of the questions that came up repeatedly was: How would Johnson be held accountable now that she is not in office?
READ | Ramaphosa accepts Andrea Johnson's resignation
Kubayi did not mince her words. She said when a person resigns, it does not end there.
Kubayi explained that while Johnson’s resignation may have ended the employer's ability to institute disciplinary proceedings against her, this does not stop other mechanisms of accountability from following.
“If the person has violated others, if there's criminal activities that have been undertaken, then criminal procedures must follow.”
Kubayi said accountability remains the cornerstone of the anti-corruption unit, a key issue that Kubayi pressed on.
“The fact that we have an organisation that was nearly collapsed, and we are sitting here having to do this media briefing to protect the integrity of an organisation that is so important, not only for this country, but also being looked at by global organisations or global players, is very important to us as a country,” she said.
As such, she said it is crucial to maintain its credibility.
READ | IDAC faces credibility crisis after Andrea Johnson resigns
Kubayi’s sentiments were echoed by National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, who said where there was evidence pointing to wrongdoing, there would be consequence management.
Mothibi said another aspect of accountability is that if there's evidence pointing to criminal action, they would pursue it and it would be investigated appropriately by SAPS.
Once investigations are complete, there will be prosecutorial decisions taken.
He was speaking in the wake of three suspensions within IDAC
Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) investigators Dylan Perumal, Suneel Bellochun, and Brian Padayachee have been suspended pending disciplinary proceedings against them.