Masemola’s arrest ‘calculated’ and meant to ’embarrass’ him, Madlanga tells Andrea Johnson

It was another day of concessions for former Independent Directorate Against Corruption head Advocate Andrea Johnson, who continued with her testimony at the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday. The commission zoomed in on the charges faced by suspended national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, who was arrested for contravention of the PFMA, relating to the irregular awarding of a R360 million Saps contract to Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s company, Medicare24 Tshwane District. In March, Masemola dismissed allegations that he was caught sleeping regarding the awarding of this tender.

“Talking about dropping the ball, I wouldn’t know what you are indeed referring to. As an accounting officer, I’ve done my work. I’ve done what I was supposed to do.

But I don’t think it’s an area one would want to venture into. I cancelled the contract, and I followed other processes, and yeah, that’s how far I want to take it,” he told the media at the time. Charges against Masemola On Wednesday, the commissioners questioned Johnson about the charges against Masemola and how Idac became involved in the case.

Commission chair Mbuyiseli Madlanga took issue with Masemola being lumped in with people charged with corruption and fraud, even though his charges were unrelated. He also questioned Johnson about what information she relied on to reach the conclusion that the charges had met the threshold for an Idac mandate. “General Masemola’s charges cannot stand alone and must be added to others that will then meet the threshold to trigger an Idac mandate,” said Madlanga.

“If the charges Masemola is facing are only those under the PFMA, on what basis does the Idac have the mandate to charge General Masemola under the PFMA only?” ‘He took too long’ Johnson said Masemola’s charges resulted from the serious, complex corruption and commercial crimes matter, which falls under the Idac mandate. “The Medicare24 matter relates to serious, high-profile or complex corruption and commercial crimes. The involvement of General Masemola in serious, high-profile commercial or financial matters is related to the PFMA.

“When these offences were allegedly taking place, Major-General Charity Matlala Matlou brought it to the commissioner to say there are these offences taking place, and commissioner, as the account…