EFF Challenges Ramaphosa After Second Madlanga Commission Extension

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has launched a scathing attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of using secrecy to shield the Madlanga Commission from public scrutiny after granting it another extension.

While the party supports the commission’s work, it argues that South Africans are being kept in the dark about its progress, recommendations and how much longer the inquiry will continue.

On Thursday, Ramaphosa announced that the commission’s final report will now be delivered on 16 November 2026 instead of the original deadline of 31 August. The decision marks the second extension granted to the inquiry since its establishment.

EFF Slams Madlanga Commission Extension Over ‘Lack Of Transparency’

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the extension gives the commission until 2 October to complete the hearing of evidence before submitting its final report in November.

“The extension granted by the President sets an evidence deadline of Friday, 2 October 2026, and a reporting deadline of Monday, 16 November 2026, to enable the Commission to close off topics it has opened up in the course of hearings to date.

“The extension allows the Commission to hear evidence on all of the matters listed in its terms of reference.

“Without an extension, the Commission will have to leave large parts of its work unfinished,” Magwenya said.

The EFF, however, said the Presidency’s handling of the inquiry has created uncertainty instead of confidence, arguing that repeated deadline extensions have come without meaningful explanations.

“However, the manner in which the Presidency continues to administer the Commission through piecemeal announcements provides neither certainty nor transparency,” EFF spokesperson Thembi Msane said.

She said Ramaphosa had failed to explain exactly how much more time the commission required, what work remained outstanding or whether enough resources had been allocated to prevent further delays.

“President Ramaphosa refuses to state openly how much time the Commission genuinely requires to complete its mandate, nor any comprehensive explanation of the Commission’s outstanding work, the anticipated completion of its investigations, or whether adequate financial and institutional resources have been made available to ensure that no further delays become necessary,” Msane said.

EFF Demands Release Of Madlanga Commission Reports

The EFF also criticised the continued withholding of the commission’s interim reports, saying the public has been excluded from recommendations that have already triggered criminal investigations and possible prosecutions.

According to Msane, the first interim report submitted in December 2025 resulted in referrals for criminal investigations, prosecutorial consideration and administrative action. She said a second report submitted in May 2026 also contained recommendations requiring further investigative action, yet neither report has been released.

“Yet despite these significant developments, both interim reports remain hidden from the South African public.”

The party argued that the reports belong to the public and not the Presidency.

“These are not matters of private correspondence between the Commission and the President but they concern the constitutional integrity of the Republic itself.”

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The EFF said Ramaphosa should immediately publish both reports, subject only to limited redactions necessary to protect ongoing investigations, witnesses and national security.

The party also questioned whether the continued placement of the State Security Agency under the Presidency creates opportunities for political interference. Msane further referenced the findings of the independent Section 89 panel into the Phala Phala matter, arguing they demonstrated why intelligence and policing institutions should not fall under direct political control.

EFF Wants Wider Madlanga Commission Probe As Malema Faces Allegations

Beyond the extension, the EFF argued that the commission’s mandate remains too limited to expose the full extent of alleged criminal infiltration across South Africa’s law enforcement structures.

Msane said allegations involving the City of Cape Town, the eThekwini Metro Police and other metropolitan police departments should also be investigated.

“The EFF therefore believes that while the Commission must be afforded the time and resources necessary to complete its current mandate, its findings should not mark the end of South Africa’s reckoning with criminal infiltration of the state.

“Their work must produce broader investigations into all institutions where credible evidence of organised criminal influence exists, irrespective of which political party governs them. No municipality, police service, or intelligence structure should be beyond scrutiny,” she said.

The statement comes as EFF leader Julius Malema continues to reject allegations raised before the Madlanga Commission linking him to senior Crime Intelligence official Feroz Khan.

The commission recently heard evidence relating to WhatsApp messages allegedly exchanged between Khan and accused tobacco smuggler Mohammed “Mo” Sayed, while Malema has denied the allegations and questioned the authenticity of the messages.

The commission has not yet indicated whether Malema will be called to testify.