ActionSA has expressed shock and outrage after a key witness who recently testified before the Madlanga Commission was murdered, describing the development as a disturbing indication of worsening intimidation and violence facing individuals cooperating with investigations into criminal infiltration.
The party confirmed the killing in a statement issued on Friday evening by its Member of Parliament Dereleen James, who said the witness had appeared before the Madlanga Commission in November. Details surrounding the murder were still being established at the time of the statement, but ActionSA said the circumstances pointed to the growing dangers faced by individuals who come forward with evidence in high-stakes investigations.
The Madlanga Commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established to investigate alleged criminal penetration of the South African Police Service, key state institutions and broader public systems. The commission has been hearing testimony from current and former officials, whistle-blowers and community members who have alleged organised corruption, collusion with criminal networks and systemic failures within law-enforcement bodies.
In recent months, the commission’s work has been closely linked to Parliament’s Ad-Hoc Committee, which is assessing governance failures and risks to the integrity of state institutions. Many of the individuals providing information to the commission are believed to be operating under significant personal risk because of the nature of the matters under investigation.
James said the murder underscored an urgent need for strengthened protection measures for witnesses and whistle-blowers. She argued that government and law-enforcement agencies could no longer delay implementing comprehensive support and security systems for people whose testimony exposes them to potential harm.
ActionSA called for both the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary committee to intensify efforts to ensure that any individual who may face threats as a direct result of their cooperation receives adequate protection. The party said assurances of safety must extend to anyone whose “roles, testimony or exposure place them at heightened risk,” emphasising that the seriousness of the issues being probed demanded a robust response.
According to the statement, the killing comes at a time when both bodies are examining allegations of deep-rooted criminal networks within policing structures and other units critical to the functioning of the state. ActionSA said it was deeply concerned that individuals contributing to such processes remained vulnerable to intimidation, threats and, as in the latest case, fatal violence.
The party said it viewed the murder as an indictment of existing protections and as further evidence of the dangers faced by those cooperating with inquiries into corruption and organised crime. It urged authorities to prioritise safeguarding witnesses as part of broader efforts to restore integrity within state institutions.
ActionSA’s Communications Director, Matthew George, reiterated the party’s call for immediate action to ensure the safety of individuals linked to the investigations. SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said she was heading to the scene.
