The Madlanga Commission has been forced to adjourn its hearings after suspended head of SAPS Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, fell ill on Wednesday morning.
Khumalo, who was expected to continue with explosive testimony that has already rattled the political and policing establishment, was reportedly unwell and left the Commission’s Pretoria precinct just after 9 a.m. The proceedings were scheduled to begin at 9:30, but Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga announced an adjournment until further notice.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels described the interruption as routine.
“The hearing was scheduled to start at 9:30. There is nothing out of the ordinary, except that General Khumalo is not feeling well, and of course, Justice Madlanga took the decision to adjourn for the day,” Michaels told reporters.
WhatsApp Messages at the Centre
Before falling ill, Khumalo had been unpacking a trove of WhatsApp messages retrieved from the phone of businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. The messages, Khumalo testified earlier this week, pointed to systemic political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
He revealed conversations in which Matlala’s associate, businessman Brown Mogotsi, solicited funds for African National Congress (ANC) events while promising influence over police investigations and tenders. Among them was a lucrative R360 million SAPS contract awarded to Matlala before it was later cancelled.
According to Khumalo, the digital evidence also suggested that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had been in direct communication with individuals linked to Matlala’s cartel. Signal messages reviewed by investigators indicated that Mchunu allegedly received updates on sensitive police operations.
Khumalo described the pattern as a deliberate infiltration of law enforcement structures by criminal syndicates, facilitated through political allies.
A Commission Born of Bombshells
The Commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August following KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s public allegations of political meddling in SAPS operations. His July briefing alleged that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), which had secured convictions in high-profile assassination cases, was abruptly disbanded under suspicious circumstances.
Evidence so far has pointed to suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu and General Shadrack Sibiya as central figures in the alleged interference. Testimony has also implicated businessman Matlala and his network, raising alarms about the extent of cartel influence in state institutions.
Justice Madlanga has emphasised that the Commission’s work is to restore public confidence by exposing how state security structures were compromised for political and financial gain.
Public Speculation
Khumalo’s sudden illness sparked speculation online. On social media platform X, some users questioned whether the timing was coincidental, while others offered messages of support.
User Tshono Mathina wrote:
“Wishing him a speedy recovery. Reality is, dealing with such information has a bearing on a person’s wellbeing as well and having to present at such a commission with the world literally staring can be stressful.”
Others were less charitable, suggesting Khumalo had been under immense pressure as his testimony began touching on figures close to President Ramaphosa. Evidence presented has hinted at possible links between Matlala and the CR17 campaign, including claims that Matlala made financial contributions during the 2017 ANC leadership race.
Donations and Political Influence
The Commission also heard that Matlala donated significant sums to the ANC’s January 8 celebrations, the party’s annual birthday commemoration. Critics argue that such donations are part of a broader pattern of private money buying influence in public institutions, including SAPS.
Justice Madlanga has not commented on the political implications of these revelations but stressed that all testimony and evidence would be subjected to rigorous testing before findings are made public.
What Next?
It remains unclear when Khumalo will be fit to continue testifying. The Commission has not provided a new date for resumption, saying only that proceedings will continue “in due course.”
The adjournment underscores the fragility of the process, where each witness carries the weight of revelations that could reshape the public’s understanding of corruption and interference in law enforcement. For now, South Africans must wait, as the Commission balances health concerns with the urgency of uncovering truths at the heart of the state’s security crisis.
