The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System – more commonly known as the Madlanga Commission – has temporarily suspended its hearings and will resume proceedings on Monday, 13 October.
The break comes as a result of Commissioner Sesi Baloyi’s unavailability due to her obligations with the Judicial Service Commission.
Halted due to illness
However, hearings were already halted earlier this week when a key witness, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, suffered a sudden illness while testifying.
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Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed that Khumalo, who serves as the Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence, was unable to continue his evidence, prompting Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to adjourn proceedings earlier than planned.
“This week, the Commission’s public hearings would have continued until Friday, 3 October, but when the hearing resumed… Justice Madlanga adjourned it due to the inability of Lieutenant General Khumalo to proceed with his testimony,” Michaels said.
Key Witnesses Already Heard
The Commission has already heard critical testimony from several high-ranking officials, including:
- Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner
- General Fannie Masemola, National Police Commissioner
- Elaine Harrison, KZN Director of Public Prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority
- Major General Petronella van Rooyen, Head of Governance, Legislation and Policy in the SAPS Legal Services Division
The inquiry, chaired by Justice Madlanga, is tasked with investigating allegations of corruption, political interference, and criminality within South Africa’s law enforcement and prosecutorial bodies.
Delays and Setbacks
This week’s disruption is the latest in a series of delays that have affected the Commission.
Public hearings only began on 17 September, following an initial postponement due to logistical and procurement issues within the Department of Justice.
That delay led to the suspension of two senior officials and public criticism over the Commission’s readiness.
Despite these setbacks, the Commission is expected to continue hearing testimony from top law enforcement and prosecutorial officials in the coming weeks.
The public and media have been closely monitoring proceedings amid growing concerns about accountability and integrity within the criminal justice system.
Looking Ahead
With hearings set to resume mid-October, attention will likely turn back to Lieutenant General Khumalo’s testimony – considered crucial to the Commission’s mandate.
Observers are also waiting to see whether the Commission will revise its timetable in response to the interruptions.
