Johannesburg – National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi has appealed to South Africans to remain cautious and avoid drawing premature conclusions as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System — better known as the Madlanga Commission — continues its high-profile hearings.
Speaking in response to mounting speculation, Batohi said the commission is still at the stage of gathering and testing evidence, and stressed that the allegations currently dominating headlines have yet to be proven.
“We understand the public outrage and concern. But it is vital that we respect due process. These are allegations, not findings. The commission must be allowed to do its work without fear or prejudice,” Batohi said.
The Madlanga Commission, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established in July by President Cyril Ramaphosa after explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The inquiry is probing claims of deep-rooted corruption, collusion with criminal syndicates, and political interference in law enforcement.
Over the past weeks, testimony has linked senior police officers, intelligence operatives and even officials within the prosecutorial system to alleged protection rackets and the sabotaging of investigations. One recent revelation named a Johannesburg Metro Police officer accused of abusing state resources to aid a suspected underworld figure.
Despite the sensational nature of the evidence, Batohi reminded South Africans that commissions of inquiry are not courts of law, and their purpose is to test the credibility of claims, subpoena witnesses, and make recommendations that may later inform prosecutions.
“The National Prosecuting Authority will only act once admissible evidence has been properly tested. We must resist the temptation to convict people in the court of public opinion,” she said.
The commission is expected to continue sitting for several months, with interim reports anticipated before the end of the year. Madlanga has indicated that final recommendations will be handed to the president once all evidence has been heard.
For now, Batohi’s message is clear: patience, due process, and the presumption of innocence must remain at the centre of the national response to the inquiry.