By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Madlanga Commission of Inquiry resumed hearings on Thursday, with Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Head of Investigations Matthews Sesoko on the stand.
Sesoko’s appearance followed a series of testimonies from IDAC officials who have raised questions about operational decisions, internal processes, and accountability within the directorate.
He has led several high-profile anti-corruption investigations, including the probe that resulted in the June 2025 arrest of former Crime Intelligence head Lt Gen Dumisani Khumalo and other senior officials on fraud and corruption charges.
In November 2025, Sesoko was assaulted and robbed on the R25 in Kempton Park, with his state-issued laptop and cellphone stolen, raising concerns that the attack may have been linked to sensitive anti-corruption investigations.
During the State Capture era, Sesoko was suspended and later dismissed from IPID alongside former executive director Robert McBride.
Sesoko’s testimony provided the commission with further insight into leadership, oversight and decision-making processes at IDAC.
Sesoko told the commission that the operations management committee (OMC) played a central role in oversight, with DDPPs, chief investigators and project managers presenting monthly updates on investigations.
He would then escalate matters from the meetings to Johnson, who in turn reported to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
However, Sesoko told the commission that he no longer chairs the OMC.
“What happened is that when I came back to work after my unfortunate incident of kidnapping, I found that it had changed.”
“A decision was made that the DDPPs would now chair that committee,” he said.
The IDAC official further stated that he was not provided with any reasons or justification for the decision.
He confirmed that he returned to duty on 13 January 2026, after being abducted.
According to Sesoko, further structural adjustments followed.
A revised strategic plan altered reporting lines, resulting in chief investigators no longer reporting to him, but instead directly to former IDAC head Andrea Johnson.
Commission chairperson and retired judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga highlighted that Sesoko’s experience marked the second instance in which he had been stripped of authority.
Sesoko has also conceded that he was involved in ‘Project Diversion’ and knew of plans to arrest senior Crime Intelligence officials.
He made the admission after evidence leader Thabang Pooe confronted him with emails showing he had been copied on operational discussions, meeting requests and planning related to the investigation.
“I will concede that I was involved,” Sesoko said.
The concession drew sustained criticism from Madlanga and commissioners Sandile Khumalo and Sesi Baloyi, who questioned Sesoko’s leadership and his repeated claims that Johnson had directed the investigations from her office while he remained largely uninvolved.
Madlanga said the documentary record demonstrated Sesoko’s involvement throughout the investigation.
“From all this, it appears that you were involved throughout. Some emails were sent to you directly. On others, you were copied. All of that paints a picture of you being fully involved. Do you accept that?” Madlanga asked.
“I accept that,” Sesoko replied.
Sesoko maintained he had been referring to the operational “takedown” rather than the decision to arrest, but acknowledged the correspondence showed he knew arrests were being planned.
Madlanga announced that the commission would not sit on Friday or Monday and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, when suspended National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams is expected to testify.