The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is gearing up to wrap up its public hearings for the year, with some high-profile witnesses scheduled to appear this week. The commission is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption within South Africa's criminal justice system. They are working towards submitting their interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosa by 17 December.
Key Witnesses This Week
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is set to appear before the panel on Tuesday, 2 December. His testimony is highly anticipated, although the exact details of his involvement in the allegations remain undisclosed.
Former Ekurhuleni city manager, Dr. Imogen Mashazi, will also be giving testimony. The commission will likely delve into her tenure and any potential knowledge she may have regarding the alleged misconduct within the criminal justice system.
Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, is also scheduled to testify. His testimony could shed light on internal operations and potential corruption within the police force.
Commission's Structure and Focus
The Madlanga Commission is operating in two phases. Phase one focuses on the core allegations of a captured criminal justice system. Phase two allows those implicated in phase one to formally respond to the allegations levelled against them.
Recent testimony has also focused on the transfer of 121 dockets from the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) to SAPS headquarters in Pretoria. Senior SAPS members Mary Motsepe and Hilda Senthumule testified about auditing and facilitating the handover of these dockets, a move initiated by suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
The Commission stated that preparations are underway to finalise evidence ahead of the December deadline. Further witnesses are expected to appear before the year-end break as the Commission moves to finalise critical sections of its interim findings.