Pretoria – In a significant address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate explosive allegations of a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating within South Africa’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The announcement follows public statements made by Lieutenant General Ntshala Mkhwanazi, which have sent shockwaves through the country.
The commission, to be chaired by acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbusisile Madlanga, will be tasked with probing a wide range of allegations, including claims of interference in sensitive police investigations by high-ranking officials. According to Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, this interference extended to the alleged collusion of the Minister of Police with business figures, including an individual accused of murder, to dismantle a task team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.
The inquiry will also delve into reports of a police task team in Gauteng unmasking a powerful drug cartel syndicate with alleged ties to politicians, law enforcement officials, correctional services, prosecutors, the judiciary, and business figures.
The commission’s mandate will be extensive, covering the infiltration of the criminal justice system by these syndicates, the facilitation of organized crime, the manipulation of investigations, and the intimidation of whistleblowers. The inquiry will also scrutinize the role of both current and former senior officials within key institutions such as the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the State Security Agency.
In a move to ensure the integrity of the investigation, President Ramaphosa has placed the Minister of Police, Mr. Senzo Mchunu, on a leave of absence, effective immediately. Professor Firoz Cachalia, a respected legal academic and chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, has been appointed as the acting Minister of Police.
The commission is expected to deliver interim reports within three and six months, with a final report to be submitted to the President, the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the Chief Justice. The findings and recommendations of the commission will be crucial in determining any necessary criminal prosecutions, disciplinary actions, and institutional reforms to safeguard the integrity of South Africa’s law enforcement and justice systems