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 Commission’s readiness, noting that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, assisted by the Department of Public Works, had converted the main auditorium at the Justice College into a dedicated hearing venue, with offices for staff also established on site.
Key ICT infrastructure — including cybersecurity systems, secure internet, transcription services, and live-streaming capability — has been procured and tested.
Michaels admitted that procurement delays, especially around data security, slowed preparations, but said these challenges had now been resolved.
“Our staff have been trained, our systems tested, and we are satisfied the hardware and software are fit for purpose. Given the sensitivity and sophistication of the investigations we must undertake, data security was a non-negotiable priority,” he said.
To encourage public participation, the Commission has launched a confidential whistleblowing hotline.
Much of the preparatory work has also focused on consultations with witnesses.
Michaels confirmed that Mkhwanazi would be the first to testify.
“As Justice Madlanga noted at our first briefing in July, consultations with our first witness were imminent. I can confirm today these were with Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi, whom the Commission intends to call as its first witness,” he said.
Consultations with Mkhwanazi are expected to continue into early next week.
The commission is also in contact with other potential witnesses, though their identities remain confidential for security reasons.
Meanwhile, discussions are underway with Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which also intends to hear Mkhwanazi’s testimony.
Michaels said the two bodies would coordinate to avoid duplication and ensure cooperation.
Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations, first made public in July, have sent shockwaves across the country.
He claimed drug cartels and criminal syndicates have infiltrated law enforcement and exert undue influence over the criminal justice system.
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