Madlanga Commission: Evidence leaders frustrated after witness falls ill

Evidence leaders at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry were left frustrated on Wednesday after a witness failed to appear and submitted a medical certificate they described as difficult to read.

The commission did not hold any hearings on Wednesday after a scheduled witness fell ill.

The witness, who cannot be named at this stage, is a criminal intelligence officer responsible for managing agents and informants at the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The medical certificate submitted by the witness said they were unfit to work from 21 February to Wednesday.

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However, what frustrated the evidence leaders and commissioners was that the note did not specify the nature of the witness's illness or injury.

Senior evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson said he was concerned about the repeated cases of witnesses falling ill when they had to appear before the commission.

"Our concern with this postponement application is one, illegible and two, sparse. What we would ask is that we stand the matter down for the day and Mr Matlala (Mbuso Matlala, lawyer representing the witness) and his client produce a clear and better motivated medical certificate that will warrant a postponement because at this stage, the document at page eight (medical certificate) is impossible to make anything of," said Chaskalson.

Lawyers for the witness have committed to obtaining an affidavit from their client, which will explain the illness or injury.