PRETORIA - The embattled Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is set to undergo a major shake-up.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced sweeping interventions, including lifestyle audits for all staff members.
The Madlanga Commission continues to hear evidence exposing serious concerns about officials allegedly overstepping the unit’s mandate.
Senior officials are at the centre of these allegations.
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One of the first interventions will focus on human resources management and development.
Kubayi said the Human Resources branch has been tasked with analysing job profiles against the qualifications and experience of employees currently occupying those positions within IDAC.
She said all 146 staff members will undergo the assessment, which is expected to be completed by 14 August.
Another key intervention is the implementation of lifestyle audits, a process Kubayi said will be treated with urgency.
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The clean-up will also extend to cases currently on the court roll.
The clean-up will also extend to cases currently before the courts.
Kubayi said: “A skilled, experienced investigator is being appointed by the SIU to be seconded to the NPA to conduct a full case audit on all cases. In the interim, the NPA is finalising its consideration of the CID cases currently enrolled.”
The minister also outlined measures to improve operational management, including a review of standard operating procedures and related processes.
As part of accountability and consequence management, three senior officials have been suspended pending disciplinary action.
They are IDAC investigators Dylan Perumal, Suneel Bellochun and Brian Padayachee.
Bellochun has been accused of extortion.
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Padayachee is accused of leaking an ongoing criminal docket to senior Crime Intelligence officer Major-General Feroz Khan.
Perumal, meanwhile, faces allegations of falsifying witness statements.
Kubayi said accountability remains the cornerstone of the anti-corruption unit, stressing the importance of restoring its credibility.
“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.