Activists Call for IDAC to Be Disbanded as Tensions Escalate Over Investigations Into Top Police Officials
The Activists and Citizens Forum has launched a strong call for Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi to disband the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), claiming the agency has become a destabilising force that is targeting senior police leadership and deepening divisions within South Africa’s law enforcement structures.
The demand comes amid growing tensions surrounding investigations involving some of the country’s most senior police officials, with the organisation warning that the situation could have far-reaching consequences if left unchecked.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Dennis Bloem accused IDAC of operating with a hidden agenda and alleged that its actions were contributing to instability within the country.
According to Bloem, South Africa cannot afford what he described as a “rogue unit” whose members are allegedly intent on creating turmoil.
“The unit promotes disorder and instability in the country,” Bloem said.
Forum Accuses IDAC of Targeting Senior Police Leadership
Bloem called on Minister Kubayi to urgently investigate what he described as the agenda of IDAC and its leadership, including Advocate Andrea Johnson.
He alleged that the anti-corruption body is engaged in what he termed a “fight-back campaign” against members of the South African Police Service and is specifically targeting senior figures within the organisation.
Among those named by the forum are National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, Head of Crime Intelligence Dumisani Khumalo and Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The organisation further claimed that allegations brought against Masemola were unfounded and politically motivated.
Comparisons Drawn With Previous Police Leadership Controversies
Bloem argued that similar situations had unfolded in the past, pointing to former Acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane as an example.
He suggested that current developments reflected a pattern of retaliatory action rather than impartial investigations.
The forum also linked recent arrests involving Feroz Khan and Kodwa to broader tensions within law enforcement circles, alleging that certain individuals within IDAC were unhappy with those arrests and were responding by targeting other senior officials.
No evidence was presented by the organisation to substantiate these claims.
Warning of Potential National Instability
The Activists and Citizens Forum said it believes Minister Kubayi cannot afford to ignore its concerns.
Bloem warned that failure to address the matter urgently could have serious consequences for the country.
“If not addressed urgently, it has the potential to throw our country into serious national instability,” he said.
The allegations made by the forum have not been independently verified. At the time of publication, neither IDAC nor the Ministry of Justice had publicly responded to the calls for the anti-corruption body to be disbanded.
As pressure mounts and accusations continue to fly, the dispute highlights the increasingly fraught relationship between anti-corruption investigators and sections of South Africa’s law enforcement leadership, a battle that is likely to remain under intense public scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
