KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will be the first witness to testify when the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry begins its public hearings in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga, was established to investigate serious allegations made by General Mkhwanazi. These include claims that senior police officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu—who is currently on a leave of absence—interfere with police operations and have links to criminal syndicates.
The probe will examine Mkhwanazi’s broader allegation that a sophisticated criminal network has infiltrated key state institutions. The commission’s mandate includes investigating the extent of this alleged infiltration within the South African Police Service (SAPS), Crime Intelligence, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the State Security Agency, Correctional Services, and the judiciary.
The commission is operating on a tight schedule, with a preliminary report due in three months and a final report expected within six months. The findings are anticipated to have significant implications for the country’s criminal justice system.