Andrea Johnson and Feroz Khan arrested over alleged sharing of a police docket

Advocate Andrea Johnson, former head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, and Major General Feroz Khan, former deputy head of Crime Intelligence, have reportedly been arrested on allegations of defeating the ends of justice.

As CapeTown ETC reported on 30 October, the arrests took place on Friday morning, after arrest warrants were authorised on Thursday. The case is expected to be heard at the Pretoria Magistrates Court.

The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed Johnson’s court appearance. NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the matter of the former IDAC boss was appearing at the Pretoria Magistrates Court, Court 17. At the time of that reporting, police had not officially confirmed both arrests.

The full charge sheet has not yet emerged. The allegations are understood to involve the handling and alleged sharing of a confidential police docket. The precise circumstances of the alleged disclosure, who may have received the information and how it allegedly interfered with an investigation have not been fully established. Both men remain entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations will have to be tested in court.

For South Africans who followed the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, the two names are not new. The commission is investigating allegations of corruption, criminality and interference inside the criminal justice system, and both men featured in its proceedings.

Johnson resigned as head of IDAC in July after facing difficult questions during her testimony before the commission. Her departure followed allegations about the directorate’s handling of investigations involving Crime Intelligence officials, including its criminal case against Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and other members of the unit.

Khan previously served as deputy head of Crime Intelligence before being dismissed from the South African Police Service. His dismissal reportedly followed his failure to appear before the designated senior officer overseeing an expedited disciplinary process. Those disciplinary proceedings were separate from the criminal allegations now facing him.

Their relationship drew particular attention during the inquiry, where evidence emerged suggesting a close personal relationship that went beyond their professional responsibilities. Khan has also faced questions about alleged connections to individuals linked to businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and tobacco company Carnilinx.

His anticipated testimony before the commission has been delayed several times. Earlier in October, proceedings were postponed following the fatal shooting of his uncle-in-law, Preggy Padayachee, on the R21 near Griffiths Road in Ekurhuleni. That incident was reportedly suspected to be a targeted attack. Khan had also previously failed to attend a commission sitting on 28 September, despite being offered the opportunity to testify virtually following an independent medical assessment.

What the arrests do not yet settle is the state’s case. The court appearances are expected to provide more clarity on the charges and on what the state says happened to the docket. Until then, the allegations stand as allegations.