Madlanga Commission Hears EMPD ‘Serial Child Rapist’ Worked Until Life Sentences Handed Down

A senior figure at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has delivered explosive testimony at the Madlanga Commission, revealing that an Ekurhuleni metro police officer convicted of raping two young girls continued working throughout his criminal trial.

Thulani Magagula told the commission that the officer, named in proceedings as Adam Cummings, remained in uniform and on the payroll until he was sentenced to multiple life terms.

Serial Rapist ‘Still Working’ at EMPD During Trial

Magagula described the case as deeply troubling, telling the commission that decisive internal action was not taken while the matter was before court.

“There was a serial rapist in EMPD…he was still working, raping minor children. His dismissal was not because of their department. It was because of the criminal conviction,” Magagula testified.

According to his evidence, the officer’s removal from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) happened only after the court handed down its verdict — not as a result of internal disciplinary processes.

Magagula suggested this approach reflects a broader pattern within the department: allowing criminal proceedings to run their course rather than initiating swift administrative action.

Madlanga Commission Exposes Criminal Records Scandal and Vetting Resistance

The commission has also heard that efforts to clean up the ranks of the EMPD were derailed despite alarming findings.

Previously, testimony revealed that 275 EMPD officers were found to have criminal records in 2022, with another 100 awaiting trial at the time. Retired deputy chief Revo Spies told the inquiry that a criminal record verification drive uncovered widespread irregularities before it was halted by city authorities.

The commission further heard that acting chief commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi and members of his leadership team refused to undergo annual vetting procedures.

Magagula’s evidence reinforced concerns that disciplinary systems were not being used effectively to safeguard the public.

IPID Evidence ‘Parked’ as Officers Remain in Uniform

Magagula detailed a second case involving another EMPD officer accused of raping a child known to him. As in the Cummings matter, internal action only followed a court conviction.

“They will have our copies, but nothing will happen. They will park it there. So they are depending on the outcome of the IPID criminal investigation,” he explained.

He indicated that documents forwarded by IPID were often left untouched, with little urgency shown in launching departmental hearings.

“Those are the successes that they will have departmentally, not because of their investigation,” he said. “Remember, criminal proceedings run for a long time.”

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The testimony painted a picture of a department preoccupied with internal disputes and what Magagula described as “political no-go zones”, rather than urgently addressing allegations of sexual abuse involving children.

IPID’s submissions raised serious questions about whether quicker suspensions, proper risk assessments and faster disciplinary hearings could prevent further harm.

The commission is expected to continue probing whether systemic weaknesses within the EMPD allowed officers accused of grave crimes to remain in positions of authority for extended periods.