The Madlanga Commission resumes public hearings today, marking its first sitting of 2026 and the continuation of an inquiry that became one of the most consequential — and dangerous — corruption probes in recent years.
The commission, which is investigating allegations of criminality, corruption and political interference within South Africa’s police and criminal justice system, returns after a turbulent 2025 that culminated in explosive testimony, deepening political fallout and the assassination of a whistleblower linked to the proceedings.
What the Madlanga Commission is investigating
The Madlanga Commission was established to probe claims that senior police officials and politically connected business figures infiltrated law-enforcement structures, undermining investigations into political killings and organised crime.
Central to the inquiry are allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused senior figures — including suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu — of political interference and links to criminal networks.
The commission’s work has been divided into phases, with the current stage allowing individuals implicated during earlier hearings to respond to the allegations against them.
What happened the last time the commission sat
The commission last convened in 2025 with an explosive final week of public hearings that laid bare alleged cash payments, blue-light deals and the dismantling of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
In that sitting, Mchunu returned to the stand to defend his decision to disband the PKTT, insisting he acted within the law and was not influenced by external pressure.
He acknowledged signing the directive himself and told the commission he took “full responsibility” for the decision, citing concerns about accountability, duplication of resources and human-rights violations.
Evidence leaders, however, presented bank records and testimony suggesting that politically connected business figures had gained access to police structures, raising questions about whether the task team’s disbandment served criminal interests.
Those unresolved contradictions now form the backdrop against which the commission resumes its work.
The murder that changed the tone of the inquiry
The resumption of hearings comes under the shadow of the assassination of Marius van der Merwe, a private security boss who testified as Witness D at the commission.
Van der Merwe was shot dead outside his Brakpan home in front of his family, just days after his identity became public. His evidence detailed alleged murder cover-ups, rogue operations and the reach of what has been described as a “Big Five” syndicate operating within law-enforcement structures.
His killing sent shockwaves through political and legal circles and raised urgent concerns about the safety of whistleblowers participating in corruption inquiries.
What to expect from today’s Madlanga Commission hearing
According to the commission’s spokesperson, today’s sitting marks the continuation of phase two, during which individuals implicated in earlier testimony are expected to respond formally to the allegations made against them.
Dozens of witnesses are still expected to appear over the coming months, with evidence leaders indicating that today’s proceedings will begin testing competing versions of events presented last year.
Key issues likely to resurface include:
- the alleged influence of criminal networks within policing;
- the decision to dismantle the Political Killings Task Team; and
- whether senior officials failed to act on warning signs raised by investigators and whistleblowers.
How to watch the Madlanga Commission live
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A live stream of the Madlanga Commission hearing will be embedded below once today’s sitting gets underway.
Viewers will be able to follow proceedings in real time as witnesses and legal representatives address the commission.
