The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, now in its third day on Friday, 19 September 2025, has sent shockwaves across South Africa, gripping national attention with allegations that a criminal syndicate is systematically undermining the country’s justice system.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has delivered searing testimony, accusing the network of manipulating over 120 case dockets, many tied to political assassinations, to shield influential figures.
At the heart of these claims are prominent figures, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, suspended Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, and tender magnate Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Their alleged involvement has intensified scrutiny as the nation braces for the volatile 2026 local government elections.
As Mkhwanazi’s evidence unfolds, allegations of political interference, intelligence leaks, and what he terms a “new capture”—a fusion of state capture remnants and emerging threats—have amplified calls for accountability, positioning the commission as a pivotal force in reshaping South Africa’s criminal justice landscape.
When proceedings reconvened on Friday at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Tshwane, Mkhwanazi resumed his testimony under the incisive questioning of Advocate Terry Motau SC, meticulously outlining the alleged web of criminal influence.
He recounted an April 2025 encounter with businessman Brown Mogotsi, who told him, “Congratulations, you are going to save this country” by “standing your ground” in probing Mchunu’s connections. Initially, Mchunu denied any acquaintance with Mogotsi, only later describing him as a “comrade but not associate.”
Furthermore, Mkhwanazi revealed that Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, referred to Mogotsi as a “friend” and someone “close” to the minister, even providing contact details for direct communication. Consequently, Mkhwanazi questioned Mogotsi’s cryptic remarks, suspecting they alluded to his parliamentary appearance, though Mogotsi dismissed this as a “misconception,” prompting a brief adjournment to digest the implications.
Resuming the session, Mkhwanazi presented digital exchanges preserved on his phone but absent from commission records.
These included a 2 July 2025 message in which Mogotsi activated auto-deleting texts and urged, “General, you need to intervene,” expressing frustration over the June 2025 arrests of Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and other officers by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) for alleged appointment irregularities. In a subsequent phone call, Mogotsi argued that police should not pursue warrants against fellow officers, which Mkhwanazi cited as evidence of external pressure on disciplinary processes. Moreover, he highlighted a failed call attempt by Mogotsi on 3 July 2025, just days before his 6 July press conference, suggesting an urgent effort to influence proceedings.
Building on these exchanges, Mkhwanazi presented a July 2025 WhatsApp message from Mogotsi containing a classified PowerPoint from an internal SAPS briefing on the Political Killings Task Team—details Mkhwanazi confirmed were not public.
“Either [Mogotsi] was part of the meeting or this presentation that [he] sent to me was sent to him by a senior officer in that meeting,” Mkhwanazi testified, suggesting unauthorised intelligence sharing. This revelation amplified concerns over Mogotsi’s unexplained access to operational police data, further blurring lines between business, politics, and law enforcement. Furthermore, an X post circulating an alleged audio recording of Mchunu confirming Mogotsi as a friend in an isiZulu conversation with an unidentified woman, contradicted his parliamentary testimony, exposing inconsistencies.
Turning to institutional conflicts, Mkhwanazi addressed his role in disciplinary proceedings against General Khan, who challenged the inquiry’s legitimacy, necessitating a rehearing with Mkhwanazi presiding. He linked a media report on a “defeating the ends of justice” case implicating himself to this role, stating, “I took it as pressure for me to get off from the case that I was going to preside over, of General Khan.”
His review ultimately cleared Khan of wrongdoing in securing seized narcotics, finding no malicious intent. Mkhwanazi further alleged that Khan leaked sensitive probe details on Matlala to a Mogotsi associate, corroborated by Khan’s joint appearance with Mogotsi at an EFF rally. This, he said, formed part of a broader disinformation effort against investigators, intensifying pressure on his role in Khan’s disciplinary rehearing—where he ultimately cleared Khan of wrongdoing but flagged the leaks as sabotage.
These disclosures aligned with Mkhwanazi’s broader claims of a “new capture,” suggesting a blend of state capture remnants and emerging threats, with Idac allegedly operating dual structures: one pursuing Zondo Commission referrals, another weaponised to sabotage anti-corruption efforts.
Moreover, Mkhwanazi accused Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler Barnard of unlawfully publicising sensitive Crime Intelligence material, thereby “fuelling these malicious attacks” and breaching statutory protections. Kohler Barnard rejected the claims as “absurd.”
Similarly, he reiterated criticisms of National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams, chairperson of Parliament’s police portfolio committee, for unauthorised access to classified intelligence, which he argued influenced high-level police decisions.
Mkhwanazi dismissed Adams’s complaints lodged on 29 October 2024 at Cape Town Central and 31 December 2024 at Orlando Police Station as baseless, citing allegations of secret fund misuse for task team vehicles and loyalty to former Police Minister Bheki Cele.
Buillding on this, Mkhwanazi extended these interference claims to former Police Minister Bheki Cele, testifying that Cele instructed Masemola in 2024 to abandon a probe into Khan’s actions due to “insufficient evidence,” despite ongoing concerns over leaks and misuse of secret funds.
Correspondence from Adams to Mchunu on 1 November 2024 alleged case sabotage, which Mchunu’s chief of staff forwarded to Idac on 11 November, copying National Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Adams responded, questioning, “I don’t know why General Mkhwanazi is so fixated on me. Is he fixated because I have been the reason his buddy General Khumalo is now before the court for alleged fraud and corruption? I don’t understand.” Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga intervened, probing the substance of Adams’s “non-complaint” and affirming rigorous scrutiny.
Additionally, Mkhwanazi outlined police assistance to murder-accused businessman Katiso Molefe, including a December 2024 vehicle registration check revealing a state-issued plate and an alert from Molefe’s son about his arrest, corroborated by affidavit. He confirmed Matlala’s prison cellphone possession, withholding data specifics to protect ongoing investigations, and alleged a disinformation campaign targeting Matlala’s investigators.
Matlala reportedly forwarded defamatory articles, deeming them “good” for positioning “my person”—implicitly Sibiya—for the national commissioner role, with exchanges confirming Sibiya’s preordained Hawks appointment. To avoid litigation, Mkhwanazi reserved a key contact’s identity for in-camera proceedings, alongside evidence of a forged February 2023 authorisation letter for Matlala’s illicit blue-light vehicles via Ekurhuleni Metro Police.
On Thursday, 18 September 2025, Mkhwanazi elaborated on the Political Killings Task Team’s framework, explaining that the 121 dockets under review—initially miscounted as 123 due to classification protocols—were held by provincial stations but assigned to the task team.
An internal audit revealed no progress at head office, including five unenforced arrest warrants, highlighting systemic weaknesses predating the 31 December 2024 ministerial directive to dissolve the unit, which lacked National Commissioner endorsement.
Consequently, Mkhwanazi’s lobbying from 2 January to 7 June 2025, including appeals on 4 February and 24 April, resisted the dissolution. Advocate E Harrison’s 10 June 2025 letter warned of fragmented coordination and escalating violence risks ahead of the 2026 elections. He referenced a 2019 KwaZulu-Natal DPP directive for dedicated courtrooms, which improved conviction rates by December 2024, now jeopardised by the task team’s erosion.
Moreover, it was highlighted that Mkhwanazi’s 27 January 2025 remarks at police day commemorations attributed the directive to pressures arising from investigations into Mchunu’s associates, a disclosure he made out of duty despite potential repercussions. He reiterated criticisms of Adams for intelligence leaks undermining oversight and alleged a media smear campaign against Matlala’s investigators, with Matlala boasting in intercepted communications about elevating allies like Sibiya—a claim verified by correctional officials.
These revelations tied to an August 2022 memorandum establishing efficiency forums, disrupted by the task team’s disbandment. Procedural matters on 18 September included labelling documents by witnesses’ surnames for clarity, with Mkhwanazi detailing the handover of 118 dockets on 26 March 2025 and three on 10 April, totalling 121. He referenced paragraphs 141–142 of his statement, noting a “defeating the ends of justice” case in which he is the complainant, withholding names until the end of his testimony.
The commission’s inquiry, rooted in Mkhwanazi’s allegations first aired on 6 July 2025 and entering its third day on 19 September 2025, centres on Mchunu’s alleged collusion with criminal networks to dismantle the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team, as per his 31 December 2024 directive, which sparked public outrage.
Mkhwanazi’s testimony, beginning on 17 September 2025, outlined syndicate manipulation of over 120 dockets tied to political assassinations, supported by audited records and Harrison’s 10 June 2025 letter highlighting eroded police-NPA cooperation and delayed arrests.
Furthermore, he recalled 2019 ministerial assessments identifying organised political murders reliant on vulnerable section 204 witnesses, with the task team’s prosecutorial and protection measures unravelling post-disbandment. Advocate Motau, chief evidence leader, emphasised, “no presumption attends Mkhwanazi’s 6 July 2025 media briefing; rather, conclusions will hinge exclusively on corroborated evidence, pursued inquisitorially to forge an unvarnished factual ledger.”
Advocates Matthew Chaskalson SC and Adila Hassim SC prioritised witness safety with in-camera sessions, stating, “While we are committed to transparency, we have to prioritise the protection of human life at all costs. Unless we can make evidence available in a form that’s not going to put human life at risk, we can’t do that. So, not [to] analogise [the] situation faced by the Zondo Commission. We sit in a much more extreme situation, and our first commitment must always be to the protection of human life.”
Chairperson Xola Nqola praised the resolution of procurement delays: “The committee welcomes the speedy resolution of the procurement matters that caused the delays. This demonstrates that the government takes the process seriously and has acted decisively to remove obstacles to ensure a smooth and timely start. We are grateful that the process has now begun. This commission is critical to restoring credibility in our country’s criminal justice system. We wish Justice Madlanga and his team well and every success in achieving their objectives.”
Motau reaffirmed the inquiry’s mandate: “The Commission is not conducting a criminal trial of specific individuals, nor is it bound by the procedural and evidentiary rules that govern judicial proceedings. Rather, this Commission operates in an inquisitorial capacity: its primary objective is to uncover facts and establish an accurate record of events, thereby enabling informed recommendations. When the Commission investigates an issue, the legal team remains impartial and will not presume a particular outcome. Witnesses may offer varying or conflicting accounts of events. The Commission’s role is to examine and explore all relevant versions and material. [The] starting point must be the allegations made by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi at the 6 July media briefing. However, this investigation assumes no facts and does not depart from the premise that the allegations made by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi are true. Any findings made by the Commission must and will be based on evidence. Furthermore, findings will be made ‘transparently and accordingly identify and report those responsible’. Conversely, if the evidence does not substantiate the allegations, the Commission will equally make such findings accordingly. The Commission’s mandate is to establish the facts; not to prosecute. Nonetheless, its fact-finding will be rigorous and thorough so that, where appropriate, prosecutions or other corrective measures may follow. Throughout this process, the Commission will uphold the principles of natural justice and fairness for all parties. The Commission and its evidence-leading team approach these responsibilities without any preconceived agenda, other than the pursuit of truth.”
As the hearings progress on Friday, 19 September 2025, the commission remains in session, with testimony continuing to unravel the intricate connections and pressures shaping these allegations.
Each new revelation contributes to the broader understanding of how political influence, business interests, and law enforcement intersect, leaving South Africans closely observing the proceedings and their potential ramifications.
The ongoing inquiry emphasises the critical need for transparency and accountability in maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system. While the hearings are far from concluded, the evidence presented so far demonstrates the commission’s commitment to rigorous fact-finding and highlights the stakes involved as the nation approaches the 2026 local government elections.
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FAQs on Madlanga Commission Proceedings of Friday, 19 September 2025
On Friday, 19 September 2025, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testified that businessman Brown Mogotsi sent him a classified SAPS PowerPoint in July 2025 containing non-public details about the Political Killings Task Team. Mkhwanazi stated, “Either [Mogotsi] was part of the meeting or this presentation that [he] sent to me was sent to him by a senior officer in that meeting,” highlighting unauthorised intelligence sharing. He also presented a 2 July 2025 auto-deleting WhatsApp message from Mogotsi urging, “General, you need to intervene,” regarding officer arrests.
During the Friday, 19 September 2025 session, Mkhwanazi revealed that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, described Mogotsi as a “friend” and “close” to Mchunu, providing direct contact details. This contradicted Mchunu’s initial denial of acquaintance, later softened to calling Mogotsi a “comrade but not associate.” Mkhwanazi also cited an X post circulating an alleged isiZulu audio of Mchunu confirming Mogotsi as a friend, exposing inconsistencies in his parliamentary testimony.
Mkhwanazi testified on Friday, 19 September 2025 about conflicts involving General Feroz Khan, whom he accused of leaking sensitive details of a probe into Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to a Mogotsi associate, corroborated by Khan’s appearance with Mogotsi at an EFF rally. He linked these leaks to a disinformation campaign against investigators, intensifying pressure on his role in Khan’s disciplinary rehearing, which ultimately cleared Khan of wrongdoing in a narcotics case but flagged the leaks as sabotage.
On Friday, 19 September 2025, the Madlanga Commission, held at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Tshwane, faced brief adjournments due to technical glitches but resumed with strict in-camera rules to protect sensitive evidence, such as withheld data on Matlala’s prison cellphone. Advocate Terry Motau SC rigorously questioned Mkhwanazi, focusing on digital exchanges, including Mogotsi’s classified PowerPoint, to unravel the syndicate’s influence on South Africa’s justice system.
Mkhwanazi’s testimony on Friday, 19 September 2025 underscored a “new capture” blending state capture remnants with emerging threats, alleging that the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) operates dual structures, one of which sabotages anti-corruption efforts. His evidence of Mogotsi’s access to classified SAPS data and pressure to halt officer arrests highlighted systemic weaknesses, raising alarms about justice system integrity as South Africa nears the 2026 local government elections.
