Madlanga to ask Ramaphosa for more time to complete commission work

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga is expected to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa to seek an extension of his commission of inquiry, as an expanding list of subpoenaed witnesses pushes the investigation into alleged infiltration of the justice system beyond its March 17 deadline.

Madlanga Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed that the commission is already preparing the ground for an extension, citing the scale and complexity of the evidence still to be heard.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of testimony on Thursday by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Hawks head Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona, Michaels said time was no longer on the commission’s side.

“I think also to the question of March 17, which is the current deadline for the final report on the amended proclamation as it stands, there will be engagement between Justice Madlanga and the President regarding the time that the commission requires.

“As we have said in recent days, since the commission resumed its hearings for 2026, there's a very long list of witnesses who need to appear before the commission, and there's a long list of witnesses who are under subpoena,” Michaels said.

The commission was initially expected to submit its final report by March 17, a target that now appears unattainable.

An interim report was delivered to Ramaphosa on December 17, 2025, flagging serious concerns and outlining preliminary findings that demanded further probing.

Testimony so far has been both slow-moving and politically charged.

Senior police officers, city managers and political figures have been implicated by witnesses who allege coordinated efforts to manipulate investigations, shield allies and undermine the rule of law.

Among those drawn into the commission’s line of sight are Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Maj-Gen Senona, whose evidence has dominated several days of hearings.

Michaels said the proceedings themselves demonstrate why rigid timelines are incompatible with a credible inquiry.

“I think as we have seen from the testimony in the last, this is the third day with Senona on the stand, it does take time and you can't exactly plan for the interruptions and, you know, the procedural issues.”

The commission argued that curtailing its work now would leave critical allegations unresolved and key witnesses unheard.

Subpoenaed individuals are still waiting to testify, while legal challenges and procedural objections continue to slow progress.

“We clearly are going to have to have a discussion about how much time is required for the Commission to fulfil its mandate,” Michaels said.

The commission is expected to resume its hearings next week.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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