The much-anticipated judicial commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system kicks off today at 10am, with KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi set to testify as the first witness.
The commission will be conducting its proceedings and public hearings at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.
Chaired by retired Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the commission of inquiry was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa after Mkhwanazi made damning allegations and statements in July about criminality and corruption within the higher ranks of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Madlanga will receive assistance in running the commission from advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and advocate Sandile Khumalo SC.
The commission’s secretary is Dr Nolitha Vukuza, and the chief evidence leader of the commission is advocate Terry Motau SC.
The other evidence leaders of the commission are advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC, advocate Mahlape Sello SC, advocate Adila Hassim SC, advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube, advocate Ofentse Motlhasedi, and advocate Thabang Pooe.
The chief investigator of the commission is Dr Peter Goss.
Limited seating
Jeremy Michaels, the commission’s spokesperson, said after the start of Wednesday’s proceedings, its public hearings will thereafter commence at 9.30am at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College.
He said the seating for members of the public is limited to 300.
“People attending will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, members of the public must arrive early if they wish to secure a seat,” said Michaels.
The commission was scheduled to commence with its public hearings on September 1; however, it had to be postponed because the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development failed to procure vital infrastructure.
The delay led to Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi suspending the department’s director-general, advocate Doc Mashabane, and the deputy director-general responsible for ICT, Jabu Hlatshwayo, for their lack of due diligence in ensuring that the commission got underway on September 1.
Kubayi told parliament last week that the commission’s total budget is set at R147-million for its envisioned duration of six months.
Top officials implicated
During a media briefing on July 6, Mkhwanazi said he is in possession of WhatsApp communication between controversial Gauteng tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and a Brown Mogotsi, a comrade of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, allegedly discussing how Mogotsi is working to get Mchunu and deputy national police commissioner for crime detection, Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, to interfere and suppress the police investigations into Matlala.
Mkhwanazi said he had proofs of payment showing that Matlala funded the ANC political activities and events of Mchunu and Mogotsi.
He added that he believed Mchunu and Sibiya decided to disband the SAPS political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal because it raided Matlala’s home in December 2024 and was making inroads in certain Gauteng cases.
Furthermore, he stated that Mchunu and Sibiya decided to disband the task team because it unmasked a criminal syndicate operating in Gauteng.
Mkhwanazi said the syndicate consists of senior politicians serving as members of parliament, law enforcement officers such as police officers, metro police officers, correctional service officials, prosecutors in Gauteng, and magistrates and judges in Gauteng.
Drug cartels and businesspeople in Gauteng control the aforementioned politicians, law enforcement officers, and members of the judiciary, according to Mkhwanazi.
Ramaphosa established a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations following Mkhwanazi’s explosive media briefing.
Additionally, the president put Mchunu on special leave, and Sibiya was placed on special leave by General Fannie Masemola, the national police commissioner.
