Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga has again voiced frustration over the quality of medical certificates submitted by witnesses who fail to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The latest incident unfolded on Monday, 13 July, when the head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Advocate Andrea Johnson, failed to appear at the eleventh hour.
Johnson was reportedly rushed to hospital while travelling to the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, where the commission is sitting.
She had been scheduled to respond to explosive testimony presented last week by retired Hawks Colonel Kobus Roelfse and an anonymous witness known as Witness O.
The two witnesses alleged that in 2018, while Johnson was serving as a senior prosecutor, they jointly leaked a criminal docket and audio recordings linked to an assault and intimidation case to Major-General Feroz Khan.
Addressing the commission, Madlanga expressed dissatisfaction with the medical certificate submitted to explain Johnson’s absence.
“It’s one of those useless so-called medical certificates. They are useless because they give no information whatsoever,” Madlanga said during proceedings.
Johnson is the latest witness to face scrutiny over a medical certificate submitted to the commission.
Earlier, self-proclaimed political fixer Brown Mogotsi came under fire after providing what the commission described as a vague medical certificate.
He was subsequently urged to apologise.
North West businessman Suliman Carrie also failed to attend several scheduled appearances, citing hospitalisation.
In response to the recurring issue, the commission has introduced stricter measures, including ordering independent medical assessments where necessary. It has also warned that witnesses who continue to disregard its directives could face criminal prosecution.
Johnson’s testimony was postponed to Wednesday (July 15).
