Madlanga inquiry hit by delay — justice department blamed for procurement fiasco

by Staff Bona

The start of the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry into criminality, corruption, and political interference in South Africa’s criminal justice system has been delayed due to the Department of Justice’s failure to meet procurement deadlines.

The hearings, initially set for 1 September 2025, have been postponed indefinitely, with the commission blaming the department for not providing the required infrastructure on time.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said this setback wastes valuable time, as the commission is expected to deliver an interim report within three months and a final report within six months.

“The commission regrets to announce that its hearings will not commence on 1 September 2025 due to delays in the procurement of vital infrastructure,” Jeremy said on Tuesday.

 

He added: “What is most regrettable is that a substantial portion of the three-month period at the end of which the Commission is expected to submit an interim report has gone by without the Commission having heard a single witness

“The Commission considers it best to fix a new date for the commencement of its hearings once everything that needs to be procured by the department is in place.

“It also wishes to assure South Africans that it is doing everything within its power to ensure that the first witness will take the stand as soon as possible after everything has been procured by the department,” Jeremy said.

Chaired by former Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the R147.9 million inquiry will probe institutions including the NPA, SAPS, and SSA, with hearings in Pretoria.

The commission stems from explosive allegations by KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu (currently on special leave) of disbanding a task team investigating political killings to protect crime-linked figures, and of ties to tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

A parliamentary ad hoc committee is also investigating Mkhwanazi’s claims separately.

First published on African Insider

Words compiled by: Betha Madhomu

Also see: Bheki Cele’s 10 missed calls to Cat Matlala implicate him further