A senior official at the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) was kidnapped and assaulted on Friday night in Midrand, Johannesburg. The official, identified as Matthews Sesoko, was reportedly attacked while driving home, with his cellphone and laptop stolen before being abandoned near Rabie Ridge in the early hours of Saturday morning.
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed the incident, stating that the official managed to seek help and report the matter at a nearby police station. “He is now receiving medical attention following the ordeal,” Mamothame said.
Sesoko currently serves as the Head of Investigations and Operations at IDAC, a crucial arm of the NPA tasked with tackling corruption and state capture cases. He has been involved in several high-profile investigations stemming from the State Capture Commission’s findings.
The NPA has refrained from speculating on the motive behind the attack but acknowledged the serious implications for the safety of anti-corruption investigators. “We are cautious about making assumptions at this stage,” Mamothame noted.
The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) was formally established in 2024 through amendments to the National Prosecuting Authority Act, creating a permanent, prosecution-led structure to combat large-scale corruption and state capture crimes.
However, the unit has faced scrutiny over its independence and capacity, with civil society organisations warning that its placement within the NPA could expose it to political interference — reminiscent of the disbandment of the Scorpions in 2009.
Sesoko’s kidnapping has now intensified concerns about the security of officials handling sensitive corruption cases. The theft of his work devices has also raised fears of potential data breaches and intimidation attempts.
The South African Police Service has launched an investigation into the incident.
This comes amid broader allegations of criminal infiltration and corruption within the justice system, currently being probed by Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Soviet Lekganyane. Earlier this week, Advocate Andrea Johnson, the head of IDAC, testified before the committee, which is investigating claims made by KZN police chief Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that a powerful criminal network known as the “Big Five” has deeply infiltrated South Africa’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The attack on Sesoko adds another alarming chapter to the growing threats faced by anti-corruption investigators in South Africa.
