Key Takeaways:
- The Madlanga judicial commission is resuming public hearings to investigate allegations of criminality, corruption, and political interference in the police and criminal justice system.
- The commission has delivered its interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosa and will continue to hear evidence from implicated individuals.
- Dozens of witnesses are expected to appear before the commission over the next few months.
- The commission’s work is divided into three phases, with phase two providing an opportunity for implicated individuals to respond to allegations and make their own allegations.
- The commission will subject evidence to testing and questioning in phase three, allowing witnesses to reply to any evidence presented against them.
Introduction to the Commission’s Work
The Madlanga judicial commission is set to resume public hearings, probing allegations of criminality, corruption, and political interference in the police and criminal justice system. The commission delivered its interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on December 17, three months after the first hearing took place on September 17. According to commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels, the commission will continue to hear evidence from people who have been implicated in the serious allegations made by Kwa-Zulu Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and other witnesses who corroborated or substantiated those allegations last year.
Allegations and Implicated Individuals
Mkhwanazi alleged that suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and suspended deputy commissioner Shadrack Sibiya were working with criminal cartels, which may have influenced Mchunu to disband the political killings task team in December 2024. The task team was disbanded after the properties of alleged cartel members were raided earlier that month. Katiso "KT" Molefe and Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala were named as members of the "big five" cartel, which has allegedly infiltrated the criminal justice system and is involved in various crimes, including drug distribution, cross-border hijacking, and contract killings. Molefe is currently on bail after being charged with orchestrating several hits, while Matlala is in maximum security prison after being arrested for allegedly ordering the attempted assassination of his former girlfriend.
Phases of the Commission’s Work
The commission’s work is separated into three phases, as explained by Michaels. Phase one was dedicated to establishing the factual foundation for the allegations made by Mkhwanazi, during which the commission received evidence from witnesses to substantiate the allegations. However, the evidence was not subjected to testing and questioning in phase one. Phase two provides persons implicated in phase one an opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them and, where applicable, to make their own allegations. This phase also allows for the ventilation of other issues falling within the commission’s terms of reference but not addressed in phase one.
Upcoming Hearings and Next Steps
As part of its remaining work, dozens of witnesses are due to appear before the commission over the next few months. The commission’s evidence leaders, investigators, secretariat, and support staff have been working over the recess period to prepare for the hearings. Phase three will provide for the recall of Mkhwanazi and the witnesses supporting his allegations, during which evidence will be subjected to testing and questioning. Witnesses from phase one will also have the opportunity to reply to any evidence adduced against them in phase two. The commission’s work is expected to continue in the coming months, with a focus on uncovering the truth behind the allegations of criminality, corruption, and political interference in the police and criminal justice system.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The Madlanga judicial commission’s work is crucial in addressing the serious allegations of criminality, corruption, and political interference in the police and criminal justice system. The commission’s interim report has been delivered to President Ramaphosa, and the resumption of public hearings marks an important step forward in the investigation. As the commission continues its work, it is essential to ensure that all implicated individuals are held accountable and that the truth is uncovered. The outcome of the commission’s work will have significant implications for the police and criminal justice system, and it is crucial that the process is transparent, fair, and just. The public will be watching closely as the hearings resume, and it is hoped that the commission’s work will lead to meaningful reforms and improvements in the system.
