By Marcus Moloko
The Presidency has announced that the Madlanga Commission’s interim report has referred 14 individuals for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution.
The referrals include five senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials and nine current and former employees of the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality, including the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department.
Those named from the SAPS are Major Generals Lesetja Senona and Richard Shibiri, Brigadiers Mbangwa Nkhwashu and Rachel Matjeng, and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.
The Ekurhuleni referrals include suspended EMPD chief of police commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, former city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, and several senior municipal officials.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that the referrals will be handled by the SAPS, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), and the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
“Where the commission has said that there is prima facie evidence of wrongdoing, it has made referrals for investigation by the appropriate officials,” Magwenya said.
The Madlanga Commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2025, following allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of a criminal syndicate infiltrating South Africa’s justice system.
Chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, with Advocates Sesi Baloyi SC and Sandile Khumalo SC, the Commission submitted its interim report on 17 December 2025.
President Ramaphosa has accepted the recommendations, saying that law enforcement agencies must act swiftly.
He has directed acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia and SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to establish a special investigations task team reporting directly to Masemola.
The president said urgent action was crucial to restore public trust and strengthen the operational capacity of institutions tasked with fighting crime and corruption.
The referrals concern allegations of criminality, corruption, fraud, murder, perjury, and other unlawful actions involving the SAPS, the City of Ekurhuleni, and the EMPD.
While the Commission has not yet heard responses from all implicated individuals, it stressed that the allegations are prima facie and warrant immediate investigation.
Clause 10.4 of the Commission’s Terms of Reference empowers it to refer matters for urgent prosecution, while Clause 7 allows recommendations on suspensions of officials pending investigation.
This is a developing story.
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