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…

The South African Police Service’s Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), which once stood at the forefront of tackling KwaZulu-Natal’s deepening crisis of assassinations, continues to make headlines months after its controversial disbandment. Its successes, failures, and the political battles surrounding it are now under the microscope at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where top police generals and suspended politicians have been called to account. This week, the Pietermaritzburg High Court handed down a double life sentence to notorious hitman Sabelo…

At its resumed sitting at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College, the Madlanga Commission has heard probing testimony from National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, particularly concerning the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), operational authority, and high-profile cases linked to the University of Fort Hare. Appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in August 2025, the Commission’s mandate is to investigate allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption involving senior police and political figures. General Masemola told the Commission that the PKTT was…

The Office of the Minister of Police has moved swiftly to reinforce its leadership structure as the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry continues to cast a long shadow over the country’s law enforcement institutions. On Friday, Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia announced the secondment of two senior officials into his office: Major General S. Pienaar as Chief of Staff, and Ms S.S. Matlala from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as Personal Assistant. The appointments come at a critical moment. The…

Day two of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into political killings and corruption in KwaZulu-Natal delivered explosive testimony that left the chamber stunned. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, named several high-profile individuals whom he accused of benefitting from illegal privileges, interfering with crime intelligence operations, and fueling a climate of lawlessness within the criminal justice system. At the center of his testimony was alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who, Mkhwanazi claimed, enjoyed extraordinary protection and privileges…

The Pretoria High Court has struck off the urgent application by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) and its leader, former President Jacob Zuma, which sought to halt the operations of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. The court ruled on Thursday that the party’s bid is not sufficiently urgent and therefore cannot be heard on its merits at this time. In its ruling, the court found that the MK Party’s case did not meet the threshold of urgency required for…

Day two of the Madlanga Commission into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal once again placed the country’s criminal justice system under the spotlight, as provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi continued his explosive testimony. Mkhwanazi, who first shook the political establishment in July with allegations of entrenched corruption within the police and links between senior politicians and crime syndicates, told the commission chaired by Justice Madlanga that political interference in policing was not a thing of the past. “Commissioner, there…

Day one of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system closed at about 4pm on Tuesday at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria after almost six hours of testimony from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi began his evidence just after 10:30 and, following a lunch adjournment, resumed at 14:00. His testimony set the tone for what many observers believe may be a fraught and revealing inquiry:…

The long-awaited Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system opened in Pretoria on Wednesday with dramatic testimony from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi, who has served in the South African Police Service (SAPS) for decades, became the first senior witness to take the stand before Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. His evidence set the tone for what promises to be one of the most consequential inquiries into policing and governance…

The long-delayed Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Political Killings is finally set to commence its hearings on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, despite mounting legal challenges and fierce opposition from political parties. The commission, chaired by Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the wake of shocking revelations by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. In July, Mkhwanazi rocked the security establishment with a bombshell press briefing in Durban, accusing senior figures within the justice…