It remains unclear whether the public will be granted access to certain proceedings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, also known as the Madlanga Commission.
Two media houses have filed an application to prevent portions of the hearings from being held in camera (behind closed doors).
This follows a request by the evidence leaders for certain witnesses to testify only in the presence of the commissioners and evidence leaders, citing the sensitive nature of the evidence to be presented.
SENSITIVE EVIDENCE
According to the request, the evidence leaders intend to keep parts of the proceedings in camera until Friday, 17 October. They have also requested that the hearings scheduled for Monday, 20 October, to Wednesday, 22 October, be anonymised. During these sessions, witnesses will testify remotely with only an audio feed available.
The commission stated that these measures are necessary to ensure the safety of witnesses and to protect ongoing criminal investigations, investigative methods, operational security, and the identities of informants and confidential sources.
“Ensuring that witnesses can testify fully and frankly serves the Commission’s mandate more effectively than risking the loss of critical evidence through fear of exposure,” the evidence leaders said.
The commission, which had earlier adjourned, is investigating criminality, corruption, and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
COUNTRY HEARS TESTIMONY
On Monday, 13 October, suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya testified. He faces allegations of involvement in the removal of dockets from the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team.
Other witnesses who have testified include KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, police expert Major-General Petronella van Rooyen, KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority head Elaine Harrison, and Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
These five delivered explosive testimony revealing how the integrity of South Africa’s justice institutions has been deliberately undermined. The commission continues.
