By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has appointed retired Judge Takalani Joseph Raulinga as the inaugural Ombud of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
IDAC is a permanent, independent and specialised anti-corruption unit within the NPA, tasked with investigating and prosecuting corruption-related cases.
IDAC is facing severe public and legal scrutiny. Critics and legal experts accuse the anti-corruption unit of institutional overreach, procedural failures, and political bias.
The agency is currently being investigated by both the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and its newly established ombud.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said the department has set aside R12 million to establish the office, adding that further adjustments will be considered as the unit becomes fully operational.
“The judge is appointed for a non-renewable term of [five] years.”
“We have established a team with investigators… We have seconded investigators from the SIU [Special Investigating Unit] to [give] support. We have transferred officials from the Office of the Chief Justice. These officials that will be coming here will be permanently employed into the structure of the office, supported by the department,” said Kubayi.
Kubayi pushed back on inferences that the IDAC may have to start afresh following allegations made against directorate officials at the commission.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to start from scratch. I don’t think that the institution [is at] the point that 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,” Kubayi said.
She acknowledged that although allegations may have an impact on institutions, it remains the responsibility of both the Minister of Justice and the Head of the NPA to protect institutions.
National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) of the NPA, Advocate Andy Mothibi, said: “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 State Capture Commission. We would like to support it such as it executes its mandate without any shadow of doubt around it.”
Mothibi assured that if allegations at the commission are found to have substance, the prosecutorial body will take disciplinary steps.
Meanwhile the long-running corruption case involving former minister Malusi Gigaba and former Transnet executives has been postponed again.
The matter returned to the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Friday, 10 July, where Gigaba was in the dock alongside his co-accused following their last court appearance in May.
All the accused remain out on R50 000 bail.
Gigaba faces charges together with former Transnet chief financial officer (CFO) Anoj Singh, former chief executives Brian Molefe – who was absent on Friday – and Siyabonga Gama, as well as former Transnet Freight Rail chief procurement officer Thamsanqa Jiyane.
The court ruled that proceedings be postponed until 23 October, granting the defence further time to review and familiarise themselves with the extensive case docket. The trial is expected to resume in March 2027.