Madlanga Commission Turns One: 110 Witnesses, 26,000 Pages And Major Fallout

One year after its first hearings, the Madlanga Commission has amassed a vast evidentiary record while its proceedings have been followed by arrests, criminal charges, suspensions and resignations involving people who appeared before the inquiry.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System marked the milestone on 17 September 2026, after 174 days of hearings and testimony from 110 witnesses. The commission has also submitted two interim reports, with its final report now due on 16 November 2026.

Madlanga Commission Reaches One-Year Milestone

The commission is chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and was established following allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025.

Its mandate covers allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa's criminal justice system, including claims that criminal networks have exerted influence over law enforcement and other state institutions.

The inquiry's terms of reference include institutions such as SAPS, the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority, intelligence structures, metropolitan police departments, correctional services and the judiciary.

As the commission marked its first year, spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the inquiry had already been followed by arrests, court appearances, criminal charges, suspensions and resignations involving people who appeared before it. The commission has stressed that these developments do not amount to findings of guilt and that criminal matters remain subject to due legal process.

More Than 26,000 Pages Of Testimony Recorded

The scale of the evidence gathered during the hearings has continued to grow.

By 16 September, the commission had recorded 26,352 pages of oral testimony transcripts, while documentary evidence amounted to another 105,282 pages contained in 750 files or document bundles.

The 110 witnesses have included 36 SAPS officers, 25 Hawks officers, eight Ekurhuleni Metro Police and City of Ekurhuleni officials, six Tshwane Metro Police officers and four Johannesburg Metro Police officers.

Other witnesses included officials from the Gauteng Traffic Department, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, the NPA and IPID, as well as two Members of Parliament, a Cabinet minister, private individuals and experts.

The commission has also received significant public input, with its hotline recording 1,894 calls and its email channel receiving 4,548 messages. The inquiry said 78% of the calls and 72% of the emails were considered outside its mandate.

Witness Safety And Legal Challenges Remain Key Issues

The commission has also had to confront the risks faced by people who provide evidence.

It paid tribute to Marius van der Merwe, who testified as Witness D before he was assassinated in front of his family on 5 December 2025. The commission said his death highlighted the dangers faced by people who come forward with information.

The inquiry has also faced legal challenges. Three High Court applications have been brought against it: one was dismissed and two were withdrawn, while a separate recusal application against an Evidence Leader was dismissed.

The commission is now entering another important phase of its work. Its evidence deadline is 2 October 2026, followed by the submission of its final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 16 November.

The commission has said it will continue its work without fear, favour or prejudice as it examines the remaining evidence and develops recommendations for possible reforms to South Africa's criminal justice institutions.