Madlanga Commission submits second interim report to president Ramaphosa

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, known as the Madlanga Commission, has officially submitted its Second Interim Report to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and assisted by Advocates Sesi Baloyi SC and Sandile Khumalo SC, was established by President Ramaphosa in July 2025 following explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

In a statement on Friday the commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said that the inquiry resumed its work in January this year after submitting its first interim report in December 2025. Public hearings began on 26 January 2026 and have since heard testimony from 32 witnesses over 64 days.

The hearings have focused on allegations involving the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), with the commission investigating claims of criminality, corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system.

President Ramaphosa extended the commission’s term in March 2026 from 17 March to 31 August 2026, requiring the submission of a second interim report by 29 May and a final report by the end of August.

Michaels said that the Commission will resume its public hearings on Monday, 1 June 2026, with further testimony relating to the Port Shepstone drug bust.

“Several witnesses who have previously appeared before the Commission are due to return, including Minister Senzo Mchunu, Major-General Lesetja Senona and EMPD Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi, amongst others. A number of new witnesses are under subpoena to appear in coming weeks,” said Michaels.

“The inquiry will continue to run phases one and two in parallel, with phase one being the airing of allegations, and phase two broadly being the responses by implicated individuals to specific allegations against them as well as giving those implicated persons the opportunity to tell their side of the story.”

Michael said that an announcement will be made in due course regarding phase three, which will see Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and others return to the witness stand.