With an official investigation into corruption in the country’s police now underway, Africa Check unpacks what these inquiries are and what they can and can’t do. In the end, their real impact depends on government and law enforcement follow-through. Without concrete consequences, commissions risk being criticised as expensive exercises that deliver little accountability.
It’s not just the vast amounts of money that were looted from Tembisa Hospital that is incredibly worrying, writes Nthabi Nhlapo for News24. It’s also the utter silence from President Cyril Ramaphosa – while the citizens of his country are under siege. “The real victims are … the most vulnerable, who should have been protected … Anyone who is not utterly enraged and furious at what has happened at Tembisa Hospital cannot claim to care about South Africans.”
In a short week, the Madlanga commission heard of a detrimental case of mistaken identity, texts exchanged between alleged cartel member Cat Matlala and plotter and facilitator Brown Mogotsi, and payments made in return for keeping the cops at bay. Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, who heads up the crime intelligence division of the South African Police Service, was in the witness chair.
CW, responding to the release yesterday of the Special Investigating Unit’s interim investigation report on Tembisa Hospital, joins the calls for decisive action against the syndicates and officials named in the stealing of over R2-billion of the hospital’s funds. In 2018 the organisation, with Section27 and the Treatment Action Campaign, exposed a buried SIU report that highlighted 1.2-billion rands worth of gross financial misconduct in the Gauteng Department of Health between 2006 and 2010 – but the government chose not to act.
The ad hoc committee set up to investigate allegations of criminality and corruption in the criminal justice system, invites individuals and interested organisations to make written submissions on matters pertinent to the scope of the enquiry (detailed in the Terms of Reference) that may assist it in fulfilling its mandate. The deadline is 17 October 2025.
The second week of the Madlanga commission of inquiry into criminality and corruption in the criminal justice system featured testimony from national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, police law expert Petronella van Rooyen, and KZN director of public prosecutions, Elaine Harrison.
As the first African G20 presidency, South Africa has both the standing and responsibility to lead on illicit financial flows – but real progress depends on top-level political backing to mobilise the players needed for coherent domestic and international policy changes.
The first three days of hearing of the Madlanga commission of inquiry into criminality in the criminal justice system were taken up by testimony from KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, whose allegations prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish the commission.
The Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System – informally known as the Madlanga Commission – started its hearings today. The first witness, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is on the stand and is expected to testify at least until Friday.