KZN police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi first to testify at high-profile Madlanga Commission

KwaZulu-Natal Police (KZN) Commissioner Lieutenant General, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is likely to be the first witness to testify at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry set to begin on September 17, 2025

The announcement was made during a media briefing in Pretoria by commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels. 

“We can now confirm that the consultation to which Justice Madlanga referred was with Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi, whom the commission intends to call as its first witness,” said Michaels.

The judicial inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2025 to probe serious allegations of corruption, political interference, and criminal syndicate infiltration within South Africa’s law enforcement and intelligence structures.

The commission’s formation followed explosive allegations made by Mkhwanazi, who claimed that a sophisticated criminal syndicate, including drug cartels, has deeply infiltrated the country’s justice system — compromising investigations and protecting criminal networks.

He alleged that Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, was involved in the political interference in the ministry.

Initially scheduled to begin on September 1, the hearings were postponed due to delays in installing and testing the commission’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems.

Michaels confirmed that those systems are now fully operational.

“Whilst the delay in procuring these items was regrettable, the necessary systems are up and running,” he added.

In addition, the commission has activated a confidential whistle-blower hotline to receive reports from the public.

Mkhwanazi’s upcoming testimony is expected to detail how criminal elements have allegedly embedded themselves within the SAPS, Crime Intelligence, and other key institutions.

His claims have sparked nationwide concern and drawn comparisons to the State Capture era.

The commission has also been consulting with multiple other witnesses, though their identities remain undisclosed due to security concerns.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Police and Justice has also expressed interest in hearing from Mkhwanazi, suggesting that his testimony could have far-reaching legal and political implications.

The Madlanga Commission is set to become one of the most significant public inquiries in post-apartheid South Africa, with the potential to expose deep-rooted corruption and reshape the future of the country’s criminal justice system.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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