Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who is in charge of the Madlanga commission of inquiry, has said that all testimony from a key crime intelligence witness known as Witness G will now take place in-camera for safety and practical reasons.
On Monday, Madlanga explained that an earlier directive issued on April 24, which allowed for a mix of public and private testimony, was no longer workable.
He then canceled that order and made a new one that required all proceedings involving Witness G to take place in-camera.
He acknowledged the change and apologised to the public and media, noting that the previous arrangement had proven too difficult to implement effectively.
Witness G is believed to be involved in crime intelligence operations, including working with agents and informants.
Her legal representative, Tshepo Matlala, indicated that she also prefers to testify remotely and without being seen on camera.
Technical difficulties experienced
Her evidence relates to allegations of criminal activity, political interference, and corruption within the criminal justice system.
During the session, evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson SC encountered technical difficulties while trying to hear the witness, prompting a temporary adjournment.
Although the proceedings resumed later, further complications arose.
Chaskalson asked Witness G to read parts of her statement aloud, but she refused, citing fears for her safety and concerns that mentioning certain names could reveal her identity.
“I can’t say them aloud. They include names linked to me,” she explained.
Chaskalson said that the issue needed to be addressed immediately, as much of his planned questioning would involve sensitive relationships between Witness G, North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, and others.
He suggested that if such matters could not be discussed openly, the entire process might need to remain closed to the public.
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- Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has ordered all testimony from crime intelligence Witness G to be held in-camera, reversing a previous directive allowing mixed public and private testimony.
- The change was made for safety and practical reasons, as the initial arrangement proved too difficult to implement effectively.
- Witness G, involved in crime intelligence operations, prefers to testify remotely and without being seen, citing safety concerns and risks related to revealing her identity.
- Technical difficulties and security concerns arose during the testimony, with Witness G refusing to read parts of her statement aloud due to fear of exposure.
- The sensitivity of the evidence regarding criminal activity, political interference, and corruption may require the entire inquiry process to be closed to the public.
