Madlanga Commission to begin with Mkhwanazi as first witness

By Johnathan Paoli

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System will begin its highly anticipated public hearings next week, with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi confirmed as the first witness.

At a media briefing at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria on Monday, commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels outlined the progress since President Cyril Ramaphosa formally proclaimed the inquiry on 23 July.

He said the past six weeks had been marked by “intense behind-the-scenes work” to ensure the Commission was properly constituted, staffed, and equipped.

Chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the Commission will begin hearings on Wednesday, 17 September.

“The Proclamation establishing the Commission and the Regulations governing its operations were published in the Government Gazette on 22 August. These documents now guide all of our proceedings,” Michaels said.

He sought to reassure South Africans of the