Ramaphosa extends Madlanga Commission deadline to January 2027 - IOL

Madlanga Commission given until January 2027 to complete inquiry.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry a further extension, with the inquiry now expected to submit its final report in January 2027.

The commission’s new deadline is Monday, January 25, 2027, replacing the previous deadline of November 16, 2026.

According to the Presidency, the extension will give the commission additional time to consider further evidence, including testimony from experts who have made recommendations relevant to its terms of reference.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the extension would allow the commission to complete its work after additional issues emerged during its hearings.

Magwenya also expressed Ramaphosa’s appreciation for the commission’s work and for the steps being taken by law-enforcement agencies in response to evidence emerging during the inquiry.

The latest extension comes as the commission continues its investigation into allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

The inquiry was established by Ramaphosa after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made a series of serious allegations about interference and corruption within law-enforcement structures in July 2025. The commission is chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

The commission has already submitted two interim reports to Ramaphosa.

Its first interim report was handed to the President on December 17, 2025, while the second interim report was submitted on May 29, 2026. By the time the second report was submitted, the commission said it had heard 32 witnesses over 64 days of hearings covering the SAPS, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department and Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department.

The commission's first report resulted in referrals involving several senior and other SAPS members for further investigation and possible action.

Among those referred were Major General Lesetja Senona, who later resigned as head of the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks; Major General Richard Shibiri, who was dismissed for misconduct; Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu; and Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, who was dismissed on charges including money laundering and dishonesty.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi was later arrested on firearm-related charges and for allegedly defeating the ends of justice after items were found at his home during a police raid in April. He also faces charges of allegedly posing as a senior police officer at a station in Thohoyandou and stealing marijuana from the station. Nkosi has made two unsuccessful bail applications.

The second interim report made further recommendations after individuals implicated in evidence had been given an opportunity to appear before the commission.

The commission recommended disciplinary proceedings and immediate investigations into alleged criminal conduct involving suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, Witness G, suspended SAPS Sergeant Fannie Nkosi and businessman Brown Mogotsi.

It also called for an investigation by the Office of the Inspector-General for Intelligence, or another suitably authorised body, into an alleged off-the-books Crime Intelligence operation involving Mogotsi and Witness G.

The recommendations were made under provisions of the commission’s terms of reference that allow matters to be referred for urgent criminal investigation, prosecution-related decisions or further investigation.

The extension comes as the inquiry continues to deal with outstanding witnesses and issues raised during its hearings.

IOL reported earlier this month that the commission had postponed the testimony of Crime Intelligence deputy Major General Feroz Khan to September 28 after he failed to appear because of hospitalisation. Justice Madlanga imposed conditions concerning any further absence, including the possibility of an independent medical assessment.

In a recent assessment of the commission's first year of work, IOL reported that the inquiry had produced referrals for criminal investigations, prosecution-related decisions and employment action, while Justice Madlanga stressed that the commission had not yet made definitive findings on the allegations raised by Mkhwanazi.

The latest extension means the commission will have additional time to assess outstanding evidence before presenting its final findings and recommendations to Ramaphosa.