Presidency dismisses transparency concerns as Madlanga interim report deadline nears

President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the decision not to immediately release the interim report of the Madlanga Commission to the public, stating the move is not intended to undermine transparency.

This assurance comes just days before the commission—tasked with investigating corruption within the criminal justice system—is scheduled to submit its interim findings to the President.

The interim report will detail the witness testimonies and evidence presented since the commission’s first sitting in September.

At a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Wednesday, Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya addressed growing calls for the interim report to be released publicly.

Under the commission's terms of reference, an interim report is required to be submitted to President Ramaphosa three months after the start of proceedings, a deadline which falls this Wednesday.

A final report is scheduled to be submitted to the President six months after the inquiry began, likely around March next year.

While the final report is guaranteed to be made ublic, the interim report will initially only be for the eyes of the President.

This distinction has sparked significant criticism, with some observers arguing that the decision undermines the government's commitment to transparency.

However, Magwenya strongly disagreed with this assessment.

"It would not be helpful for the witnesses, the commission, and all of us to start getting ourselves into knots over something that has not been completed. We need to allow the process to be completed."

Magwenya added that, with the interim report due on Wednesday, the commission has yet to send the document to the President.