The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System has delivered its interim report to President Cyril Ramaphosa, marking a significant milestone in an inquiry that has captured national attention. The report, comes months after Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi appeared as the first witness before the Commission on 17 September 2025, presenting under oath the allegations he made at a media conference in Durban on 6 July 2025.
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the interim report represents months of detailed investigation and meticulous documentation. “Since its establishment, the Commission has heard 37 witnesses over 45 days of hearings, in formats ranging from fully public to partially public, with one session conducted entirely in-camera,” Michaels said. He explained that Phase One of the inquiry focused on airing, substantiation, and corroboration of the allegations, while Phase Two has allowed individuals named in the allegations to testify in their own defence.
“To date, Phase One has seen 28 witnesses provide evidence, and Phase Two has heard nine witnesses reply to allegations. Dozens more are scheduled to appear in 2026,” Michaels said. He emphasised that the Commission has received additional evidence from 28 walk-in submissions, and of 89 hotline submissions, 45 were found to fall within the Commission’s terms of reference.
The Commission’s work has also been marked by tragedy. Michaels described the brutal killing of witness Marius van der Merwe, who was shot in front of his wife and two young children, as a critical moment for the inquiry. “Van der Merwe’s murder is a reminder of the determination of certain criminal elements who do not want to see accountability and justice take its course. The Commission will not be intimidated and urges relevant law enforcement agencies to track down and bring to book all those who seek to undermine the work of the Commission and the rule of law,” Michaels said. He added that the murder has not deterred other witnesses from coming forward. “We have been encouraged that more witnesses have stepped forward to assist the Commission in getting to the bottom of very serious allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system,” he said.
Michaels also highlighted the scale of the Commission’s record-keeping and administrative efforts. “The Commission has compiled 8,087 pages of hearing transcriptions and 120 document bundles, including witness statements and evidence files. This represents an extensive body of evidence supporting the Commission’s work,” he said.
He praised the contribution of all individuals and organisations that have facilitated the Commission’s operations. “On behalf of Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, his co-Commissioners Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC, and the entire Commission, we would like to thank all witnesses and all those who have come forward to assist in our work,” Michaels said. “We also extend our gratitude to all state entities and service providers who have supported us at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College and off-site over the past few months.”
Michaels singled out the Commission’s livestreaming services and media coverage as key to ensuring public access to proceedings. “The Commission’s livestream service has carried the hearings to millions of people, at home and abroad, allowing the public to watch and listen uninterrupted and unmediated. This service has been provided free of charge to mainstream and social media platforms,” he said. He further thanked journalists, noting, “Editors, reporters, presenters, producers, photographers, videographers, technicians, and all those who arrived at the Commission in the early hours and worked late into the night have helped ensure the public receives wall-to-wall coverage of the hearings.”
The Commission will pause between Christmas and New Year, with only essential staff on duty. Michaels confirmed that the evidence leaders, investigators, secretariat, and support staff will continue preparations for hearings scheduled to resume in January 2026. “We will make an announcement regarding the resumption of public hearings next year,” he said.
In closing, Michaels expressed appreciation to the public for their engagement and urged South Africans to remain attentive to the Commission’s work. “We would like to thank all members of the public who have engaged with the critically important work of the Commission over the last few months, and we wish all South Africans a blessed and safe festive holiday season,” he said.
