Madlanga Commission to cost R148m over six months

JOHANNESBURG - The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System is set to cost almost R148 million over six months.

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development confirmed the amount to EWN in a written email.

During a briefing in Sandton on Monday, acting deputy chief justice and chairperson of the commission, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, informed the media he was not in a position to talk about the cost, directing all questions to the department.

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The judicial commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe allegations of corruption and collusion within the criminal justice system, made public by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The estimated cost of the Madlanga commission of inquiry into the criminal justice system has been set at R147.9 million.

The budget will form part of the standard operating procedure to be tabled to Cabinet by Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi for approval.

According to the department, the budget and SOP will cover organisational, structure and reporting formats, information security and storage, monitoring and implementation mechanisms, compensation structures for commissioners, employees, legal professionals, and researchers, administrative costs, including office leases, digital infrastructure, and security arrangements.

The department will also oversee the procurement process for the commission’s operations, adding they’ve applied to National Treasury for a deviation from standard procurement processes and is currently awaiting a response.

According to the commission, they are in the process of procuring a building in Gauteng as a venue for the commission over the next six months.