Commission Clock Ticks Down as Witness F Testimony Postponed

With just a month before it is due to conclude and submit its final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is racing against time after the postponement of crucial testimony from Witness F pushed proceedings to the brink. The unexpected delay, triggered by the witness’s hospitalisation, means his evidence will now only be heard on 16 March — the commission’s final scheduled day — intensifying pressure on an inquiry already navigating legal hurdles and repeated attempts to stall his appearance. Witness F was scheduled to appear this week but was declared unavailable at short notice. Advocate Matthew Chaskalson informed the commission that the witness had been hospitalised and requested that his testimony be postponed. A medical certificate states that he will not be available until at least 25 February. However, due to prior commitments of legal representatives, 16 March is now the earliest available date. “As things stand, 16 March is the last day of the commission, but it is the best we can do at this stage,” Chaskalson said. Commission chair Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga is expected to approach Ramaphosa for an extension, as an expanding list of subpoenaed witnesses threatens to push the inquiry beyond its March deadline. Spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed that preparations for an extension are already under way, citing the complexity and scale of outstanding evidence. An interim report delivered on 17 December 2025 flagged serious concerns and outlined preliminary findings requiring further investigation. Senior police officers, city managers and political figures have since been implicated in allegations of coordinated efforts to manipulate investigations and undermine the rule of law. Among those implicated are Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Maj-Gen Senona, whose testimony has spanned several days. Michaels said the length of proceedings demonstrates why rigid timelines are incompatible with a credible inquiry. “We clearly are going to have to have a discussion about how much time is required for the Commission to fulfil its mandate,” he said. Meanwhile, revelations before the commission have cast a harsh spotlight on the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), exposing allegations of corruption, deception and criminal cover-ups. President Ramaphosa has ordered a special investigations task team to probe alleged misconduct within SAPS and metro police departments, following evidence that includes illegal impounding of trucks, theft of goods and officers continuing to work while facing serious criminal charges. Two EMPD officers stand accused of intercepting and impounding a truck belonging to a Malawian transport operator in February 2023 without informing the owner or recording it in official systems. Independent Police Investigative Directorate assistant director Thulani Magagula testified that the truck’s tracking system was disabled and parts were removed before it was recovered. No proof of lawful handover of the goods was provided. Suspended Ekurhuleni municipal legal head Kemi Behari also admitted to misleading the commission under oath regarding communication with IPID about the suspension of EMPD acting Chief Julius Mkhwanazi. The unfolding testimony has intensified concerns over accountability, oversight and public trust in municipal policing, raising broader questions about integrity within South Africa’s law enforcement agencies.