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Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga will chair the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the judicial commission of inquiry he established will investigate allegations of criminal syndicate infiltration of institutions within the criminal justice system.
The establishment of the commission of inquiry follows KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations that senior police officials, including Minister Senzo Mchunu, are corrupt, have links to criminal syndicates, and interfere in police operations.
Addressing the nation on Sunday President Ramaphosa says, “The Commission will investigate allegations, among the allegations that the commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime, suppression or manipulation of investigations, inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership, commission of any other criminal offenses and intimidation, victimisation, or targeted removal of whistle-blowers or officials that are resisting criminal influence.”
Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga will chair the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. He will be assisted by Senior Counsel Advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo.
The commission will further make recommendations on whether officials should be suspended pending the outcome of its investigation.
The President stresses that “The Commission will have the power to refer matters for immediate investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, taking into account the nature of the allegations and the evidence the Commission will uncover.”
Ramaphosa has set deadlines of three and six months for interim reports to be submitted by the commission, with the final report to be sent to the President, Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice.
– Additional reporting by SABC News Zara Groenewald
