Madlanga Commission hands over first report to Ramaphosa – Newsday

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry submitted its first interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 17 December 2025.

This is according to a media statement by the Commission, which said that it has heard 37 witness testimonies over 45 days of hearings.

“The Commission has heard 28 witnesses in Phase One as part of the airing, substantiation, and corroboration of the allegations,” it said.

“As part of Phase Two, the Commission has thus far heard nine witnesses who have testified in reply to the allegations levelled against them to tell their story, with dozens more due to appear in 2026.”

It added that 45 of the 89 submissions to its hotline were found to be within the terms of reference, and that it has received 28 walk-in submissions.

The Commission’s appointment followed Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations that a criminal syndicate has infiltrated the country’s law enforcement and intelligence structures.

These allegations also implicated the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, in interfering with sensitive police investigations and colluding with businesspeople to disband the Political Killings Task Team.

Mchunu has since been placed on special leave of absence pending the investigations. He has denied these allegations.

When announcing that the Commission would investigate Mkhwanazi’s allegations, President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed it to submit an interim report within three months and a final report within six months.

However, the Presidency announced on Wednesday that only Ramaphosa would initially have access to the report.

“It would not be helpful for the witnesses, the Commission, and all of us to start getting ourselves into knots over something that has not been completed,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

“We need to allow the process to be completed.”

The team tasked with investigating Mkhwanazi’s allegations is led by former Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, with Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC assisting.

The Commission has been authorised to investigate whether syndicates have infiltrated or exerted influence over institutions within the justice and police portfolios.

These institutions include the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane Metropolitan Police Departments, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the State Security Agency.

The Commission is also investigating how this infiltration enabled organised crime and obstructed investigations, as well as how the conduct of senior officials may have aided criminal activity.

To fulfil this mandate, it has been given far-reaching powers, including the authority to subpoena witnesses, conduct search and seizure operations, hold on-camera hearings, and refer matters for urgent criminal investigation.

According to the statement, the Commission will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period, with only essential staff on duty.

It added that the evidence leaders, investigators, secretariat, and support staff will continue to prepare for the Commission’s work next year, the start of which will be announced in January 2026.

“We would like to thank all the members of the public who have engaged with the critically important work of the Commission over the last few months, and we wish all South Africans a blessed and safe festive season,” the statement concluded.