Madlanga Commission: Key witness' testimony postponed due to his hospitalisation

A key witness who was scheduled to continue giving evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will not appear on Monday after reporting that he was admitted to hospital.

The testimony of witness F, a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) attached to the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, has now been postponed to 16 March.

The reason for his hospitalisation remains unclear, though evidence leaders submitted his medical records to the commission on Monday morning.

Witness F’s evidence before the Madlangla Commission of Inquiry revealed how he helped facilitate communication between alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala and suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya.

He also told the commission that Sibiya had instructed him to invite Matlala to a thanksgiving dinner at his home in 2024, attended by senior police officials.

The witness was expected to resume his testimony on Monday morning, but evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said he is currently unwell and unable to continue.

“Witness F has been hospitalised and is not available today. There is an application for postponement. The medical certificate records that witness F will not be available at least until the 25th of February. We have looked at our calendar and the earliest available would be the 16th of March. As it stands, 16th March is the last day of the commission.”

The commission will return on Wednesday with a new witness.