New start date for Madlanga Commission hearings to be announced soon

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry said it was working closely with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to ensure there are no further delays to the start of its work.

The commission is tasked with probing criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. Its hearings were scheduled to begin on Monday, 1 September, but a procurement delay meant critical infrastructure was not ready, forcing a postponement.

According to the commission, the department failed to meet procurement deadlines. However, both parties are now working together to ensure such delays do not occur again. Service providers are currently testing all ICT hardware and software procured through the department.

The commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa following explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, about deep-rooted corruption and collusion in law enforcement.

Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said a new date for the hearings will be announced once all systems are fully operational.

"Investigators and evidence leaders have been hard at work, including consulting witnesses, in preparation for the commission’s hearings. We will announce a date for the start of the hearings as soon as we are sure that all the ICT systems are working," Michaels said.