Madlanga Commission exposes rot in Justice System after explosive year of hearings

Since President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Madlanga Commission in 2025, it has unearthed significant allegations of criminality, corruption, and political interference within South Africa's police force and criminal justice system. The commission began its proceedings on 17 September, with its interim report presented to Ramaphosa on 17 December.

Established in response to Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's explosive media claims, the inquiry has heard testimony from over 100 witnesses and issued several recommendations for further investigation. Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels praised the progress made, noting that numerous individuals have faced arrest, criminal charges, court appearances, suspensions, or resignations as a result of the hearings.

Over 174 days of hearings have produced 26,352 pages of transcripts and more than 105,000 pages of documentary evidence. Michaels honored the courageous witnesses who testified, including Marius van der Merwe, who faced assassination after sharing his testimony. The commission also received nearly 1,900 hotline calls and 4,500 emails, many of which fell outside its jurisdiction but were handled responsibly.

Michaels emphasized the commission's independence, stressing that it would continue its investigation without bias or prejudice, thankful for the public's support throughout the year.