Acting Judge President Ledwaba refuses to take voluntary leave amid Madlanga allegations

Acting Judge President Aubrey Phago Ledwaba has refused taking a voluntary leave of absence from his duties after he was implicated in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into allegations of political interference in the police force.

Ledwaba's refusal to take voluntary leave has been confirmed by Chief Justice, Justice Mandisa Maya in a statement issued on Thursday.

This comes as Witness A, during her testimony at the Commission accused Ledwaba of being in the pockets of alleged member of the Big 5 drug cartel Katiso KT Molefe.

Ledwaba, an Acting Judge President of the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, was also implicated by Witness B on Thursday.

This witness echoing the testimony of Witness A also accused Ledwaba of being biased in his extention of a bail towards the controversial businessman.

Witness B, a detective with the SAPS Gauteng Organised Crime unit was one of the officers who were investigating the assassination of Swart, who was killed in a hail of bullets, allegedly through an instruction by Molefe.

It is reported that Ledwaba approved the relaxed bail conditions for Molefe after he was paid R2. 5 million to influence the release of multiple murder accused Molefe's bail after he was arrested for his involvement in the murder of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart last year.

Molefe, an underworld figure recently received another R400, 000 bail after he appealed a decision by the Alexandra Magistrate's Court which had denied him bail for his part in the allaged murders of DJ Sumbody and others last month.

In a statement, Chief Justice Maya said her office has noted, with great concern, the testimony given on 21 October 2025 by one “Witness A” at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Maya added that even though it is not clear who is the alleged beneficiary of this bribe as the witness did not know if this money was intended for the presiding judge, Acting Judge President Ledwaba, or the Public Prosecutor, her office is still concerned.

"This testimony, an allegation yet to be tested and proved at this stage, still has the potential of damaging the integrity of the Judiciary and we reiterate a plea which the Judiciary has issued on numerous previous occasions – that any person who has evidence of a Judge’s misconduct must promptly lodge a complaint against that Judge with the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), "the Chief Justice said.

As a result of this allegation, Justice Maya has called on anyone with evidence implicating Judge Ledwaba to come forward and contact JCC, as the appropriate constitutional body with the lawful mandate to investigate any alleged misconduct by a Judge and.

"In terms of the provisions of the Judicial Service Commission Act 9 of 1994, JCC has the right to recommend the suspension of the Judge to the President who is the functionary with the power to suspend a Judge in terms of the Constitution," she said..

Justice Maya reveled that she has since reached out to Justice Ledwaba, who has flatly denied the allegations against him and further refuses to take voluntary leave until his name is cleared.

"The process of the JSC is triggered by a formal complaint on oath, which has not been done in this case. The Chief Justice has, however, discussed the matter with Ledwaba AJP, including the possibility of granting him special leave pending finalisation of the Madlanga Commission. Ledwaba AJP, who strenuously denies receiving any money to grant Mr Molefe bail, has indicated that he will not take special leave, which a Judge may not be forced to take and applies for voluntarily. He has also indicated that he is seeking legal advice and expressed a wish to be afforded an opportunity to give his side of the story at the Madlanga Commission," the Chief Justice stated.