WeeklySA_AdminOVERSIGHT: Retired Judge Takalani Raulinga takes charge as IDAC’s first Ombud amid mounting questions over the anti-corruption unit’s credibility, following explosive allegations before the Madlanga Commission and recent controversy surrounding its high-profile investigations…
By WSAM Reporter
Retired Judge Takalani Raulinga takes charge as IDAC’s first Ombud amid mounting questions over the anti-corruption unit’s credibility, following explosive allegations before the Madlanga Commission and recent controversy surrounding its high-profile investigations…
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi announced the appointment today, saying the Ombud’s office, which will be based at the SALU Building in Tshwane, will provide independent oversight of the directorate by investigating allegations of abuse of power, improper conduct, maladministration and related complaints.
Raulinga has been appointed for a non-renewable five-year term. “We have established a team with investigators. We have seconded investigators from the SIU (Special Investigating Unit) to provide support. We have transferred officials from the Office of the Chief Justice. These officials will be permanently employed into the structure of the office, supported by the department,” Kubayi said.
The appointment comes at a particularly sensitive moment for IDAC, which has found itself at the centre of public debate following its aborted attempt to arrest Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and his colleague, Major-General Philani Madondo, an operation that attracted widespread criticism and raised questions about the directorate’s handling of high-profile investigations.
Fresh pressure mounted today after testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where retired Hawks investigator Colonel Kobus Roelofse alleged that IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson interfered in a criminal investigation in 2018 by leaking confidential information to then Major-General Feroz Khan, who was a suspect in the matter at the time. The allegations emerged during Roelofse’s evidence before the commission and have not been tested in court. Johnson has not publicly responded to the specific claims.
Responding to questions about whether the allegations emerging before the commission meant IDAC should effectively start afresh, Kubayi rejected the suggestion.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to start from scratch. I don’t think that the institution is at the point where it is hopeless. There are green shoots. That’s why the Ombud, as an oversight mechanism, provides a buffer so that when things don’t go right, they can be investigated independently.
“Institutions cannot be broken on the basis that there are one or two things that have gone wrong,” she said.
Kubayi acknowledged that allegations against senior officials inevitably affect public confidence but stressed that protecting institutions remained the responsibility of government leadership.
“Institutions must always be protected, and individuals can never be above and more important than the organisations. We will consistently evaluate and, where appropriate, decisions and actions that need to be taken will be taken.
“We do not want to run commentary on the Madlanga Commission but IDAC is very critical and its formation was for a specific reason. The work must remain credible. Its integrity must be high and the people who are within it must be of high ethical and moral standing. That cannot be compromised,” she said.
National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi also defended the importance of the directorate, saying it remained central to implementing the recommendations of the State Capture Commission.
“IDAC remains a very important institution and there’s good work that it has done. It was established initially to focus on implementing the outcomes of the Zondo Commission. We would like to support it so that it executes its mandate without any shadow of doubt around it,” Mothibi said.
He added that should the allegations currently before the Madlanga Commission be substantiated, the NPA would take the necessary disciplinary action.
The establishment of the Ombud’s office is intended to strengthen public confidence in IDAC by providing an independent mechanism to investigate complaints against the directorate as it continues its work of prosecuting complex corruption and state capture cases. – Additional reporting by SAnews.gov.za
MIRROR Briefs
Inquests after suspected ‘snack’ deaths
Mpumalanga police have opened two inquest dockets after a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew allegedly died after eating biscuits believed to have been bought from a local spaza shop in Witbank.
According to police, the owner of the shop, a foreign national, had reportedly moved his stock to the landlord’s house after hearing of looting targeting foreign-owned spaza shops in the area. The landlord allegedly ate some of the biscuits and shared them with his young nephew.
Shortly afterwards, both reportedly became dizzy and started vomiting. They were rushed to a local medical facility, where they were declared dead on arrival.
Police said post-mortem examinations will determine the cause of death, while investigators will also establish the origin of the biscuits.
The incident comes amid ongoing national concern over food safety following a series of deaths and illnesses linked to suspected food poisoning. In recent months, several children in Soweto and other parts of the country have died after allegedly consuming snacks purchased from spaza shops, prompting government crackdowns.
Police said investigations into the Witbank deaths are continuing.
Refugee appeals backlog shrinks
The Department of Home Affairs says reforms at the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa (RAASA) have reduced the country’s active refugee appeals caseload by more than 12%.
According to the department, active appeals declined from 79 870 at the end of 2024 to 70 976 by the end of 2025, a reduction of 8 894 cases. During the 2025/26 financial year, 19 064 cases were cleared from a ring-fenced backlog of 133 582 appeals, representing a 14.2% reduction.
The backlog, which has accumulated over more than two decades, includes unresolved cases dating back to 2008. Cases were removed through appeal determinations, withdrawals, case finalisations and paper determinations where applicants failed to attend scheduled hearings.
Home Affairs attributed the progress to operational reforms, including the appointment of 40 additional advocate members, more daily appeal hearings, targeted adjudication of high-volume and less complex cases, and strengthened performance management. Collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also been expanded to improve the quality and consistency of decisions.
Tshwane suspends city manager
City of Tshwane manager Johann Mettler has been placed on precautionary suspension, while suspended Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi faces disciplinary action.
The Tshwane council voted to suspend Mettler following a complaint laid against him by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The complaint penned by EFF against Mettler contains allegations relating to procurement processes, labour disputes, appointments of senior officials and governance failures. It also refers to findings by oversight institutions, including the Public Protector and the Auditor-General.
Among the issues raised are allegations relating to irregular expenditure, the implementation of lifestyle audits, disciplinary action against municipal employees and the handling of procurement matters within the city.
The vote took place behind closed doors on Thursday. Mettler will be suspended on full pay and an independent investigator will be hired to probe the misconduct allegations against him.
Council considered the written representations submitted by the City Manager in response to the proposed precautionary suspension process initiated in terms of Regulation 6 of the Regulations.
After considering the representations, together with the applicable legislative framework and the matters previously placed before Council, It resolved to place the City Manager on precautionary suspension on full pay pending the outcome of the independent investigation.
Fullview learnt that after the votes had been cast, and counted, the Speaker arbitrarily deducted 13 votes from various parties, reversing the outcome and paving the way for Mettler’s suspension. Meanwhile following Council’s consideration of the Final Forensic Investigation Report into allegations of misconduct against Mnisi, it resolved to institute disciplinary proceedings against the CFO.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said EFF proposal to suspend Mettler was in fact defeated on the votes cast. – Fullview
UN urges action as Ebola spreads
The United Nations has called for an urgent acceleration of efforts to contain the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that delays will cost lives.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said the outbreak, declared on 15 May, has spread beyond Ituri province as conflict and population displacement fuel transmission. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has infected more than 1 700 people and claimed about 600 lives in the DRC, while neighbouring Uganda has confirmed 20 cases. Fletcher said the outbreak is unfolding amid armed conflict, hunger, displacement, fragile public services and limited healthcare, making it one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies.
In May, the UN released up to US$60 million to strengthen the response, support neighbouring countries and work with communities to build trust in health interventions. The World Health Organization, working with the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, has supplied medical equipment and established isolation and treatment units, while the UN has deployed Senior Ebola Coordinator Julien Harneis to oversee containment efforts. Fletcher warned that insecurity and travel restrictions continue to disrupt humanitarian operations without stopping the virus’s spread. He urged all parties to ensure safe access for health workers and aid supplies, stressing that surveill
