By Marcus Moloko
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to keep the interim Madlanga Commission report out of public view has sparked debate, but forensic investigations and crime expert Dorothy Mmushi has endorsed the move, calling it a “wise and necessary safeguard” for the country.
Her reasoning highlights a required balance between transparency and protecting the integrity of ongoing investigations.
Mmushi explained that the Madlanga Commission, established to probe matters of national security and criminality in the criminal justice system, is mandated to deliver an interim report within three months.
This report, she notes, is not a final product but a working document containing preliminary recommendations.
“The detail in that report is of a sensitive nature,” she said and cautioned how “it would be quite dangerous to expose such a report to the public domain at this stage of the work of the commission”.
Mmushi’s strongest argument is that the interim report likely contains recommendations tied to national security.
“Premature disclosure could compromise strategies meant to safeguard the country,” she said.
“By keeping the report confidential, the Presidency ensures that sensitive information does not fall into the wrong hands or create unnecessary panic among the public.”
“At this stage of the work of the commission, they are at liberty to make recommendations where they feel fit on matters of national security and criminality that require immediate intervention,” she said.
Mmushi warned that releasing the interim report could negatively affect upcoming witness testimonies.
“Dozens” of witnesses are still to appear before the commission, according to spokesperson Jeremy Michaels, and public exposure of preliminary findings might influence how they testify.
Witnesses could tailor their accounts to align with or contradict the interim conclusions, undermining the credibility of the process.
“With them exposing this interim report, it will have an impact on how the coming witnesses will testify,” Mmushi said.
Transparency, she insisted, should not come at the cost of thoroughness and fairness. The Presidency has already pledged to release the final report publicly, ensuring accountability once the Commission’s work is complete.
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