A fearless prosecutor who distinguished herself when she led investigations against the likes of the late former police commissioner Jackie Selebi and businessman Brett Kebble.
This is how former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Vusi Pikoli described newly appointed Investigating Directorate (ID) head Andrea Johnson.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made a number of senior appointments to the NPA, including Johnson as the new head of ID.
Johnson replaces advocate Hermione Cronje, who resigned in December. Cronje was the ID’s first head after its establishment in 2019.
The ID was meant to expedite the investigation and prosecution of state capture cases. The national director of public prosecutions (NDPP), advocate Shamila Batohi, revealed in December that they had failed to successfully prosecute a single case since 2019.
But with the release of the third tranche of the state capture report on Tuesday evening, Johnson is expected to have her hands full, bringing to justice those who plundered the state’s resources.
She is serving on the NPA task force that is overseeing the implementation of the state capture report’s recommendations.
Speaking on Monday, Pikoli described Johnson as a fearless prosecutor who was conscientious.
“She’s an excellent prosecutor, a hard worker and dedicated. She’s experienced in organised crime and executed her tasks with distinction. I believe she’ll rise to the occasion,” he said.
The presidency described Johnson as an experienced senior deputy director in the NPA with more than 25 years experience, including in district, regional and high court prosecutions.
She spent 10 years in the Directorate of Special Operations, also known as the Scorpions, and worked in the NPA’s priority crimes litigation unit and organised crime section.
Ramaphosa said: “Advocate Andrea Johnson will be expected to lead the Investigating Directorate into the next phase of its work as the people of South Africa look to the criminal justice system to bring those responsible for state capture and corruption to book.
“In this regard, the Investigating Directorate will be able to draw on the extensive information compiled by the state capture commission and is being strengthened through the allocation of more resources.”
Johnson was also one of the front-runners for the ID head position back in 2019. She also lost out on the NDPP position to Batohi.
In 2019, she made headlines during the televised NDPP interviews when she bemoaned the all-male interview panel in Zulu, which trended on social media.
Johnson also gained nationwide fame, alongside former prosecutor Gerrie Nel, during the much publicised Oscar Pistorius murder case.
Johnson’s new department has been affected by low funding, a shortage of staff and a backlog of cases relating to the Covid-19 pandemic investigated by the Special Investigating Unit.
Adding to her plate are also state capture cases that have been referred to the NPA by deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo following the commission’s reports on the matter.
TimesLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.