EFF Fuming As Madlanga Commission of Inquiry Delayed Due to Procurement Hiccups

• The Economic Freedom Fighters has slammed the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry's sudden postponement
• The Commission announced that delays in procurement for the Commission have resulted in the postponement
• South Africans joined the EFF in condemning the postponement, and many blamed the African National Congress

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, a current affairs writer for Briefly News, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

JOHANNESBURG The Economic Freedom Fighters said it is not surprised that the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption of Law Enforcement was delayed due to procurement issues.

The Commission released a statement on 26 August. The commission said that the decision to commence the Commission of inquiry on 1 September was informed by the commitment the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development made that the necessary procurements would be made on time.

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The Department was supposed to procure vital infrastructure. This was after the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College availed its venue free of charge for the public hearings to be held. The Department was expected to make procurements for the infrastructure that was needed to prepare the venue for the Commission.

What did the EFF say?

The EFF released a statement on its @EFFSouthAfrica X account voicing its disappointment in the delays. The party said that the delays were part of a deliberate attempt to stifle accountability. The Red Berets also said that the Commission was nothing but a pretense of action. He said President Cyril Ramaphosa, who established the Commission of Inquiry on 13 July after placing Senzo Mchunu on special leave, had no intention of holding Mchunu accountable for the allegations against him.

"The pronouncement of this commission was a political ploy to ease the anxieties of South Africans in the immediate, hoping that our nation would in time collectively forget the damning allegations against Senzo Mchunu and our law enforcement agencies, which were alleged to be captured by criminal networks and drug syndicates," he said.

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Read the X statement here:

How much will the Commission cost?

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, who will chair the commission, revealed that the Commission will cost taxpayers over R147 million. He also said that he expected to provide Ramaphosa with a report and recommendations after three months from the Commission's commencement.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on X weighed in.

Call-a-spade-a-spade said:

"Naledi Pandor was right. We don't have leadership."

Mr Kat said:

"I knew that these ANC dogs protect each other."

Mvu said:

"It's gonna be another Zondo loading. Why can't police act on the allegations, arrest people, and let them be prosecuted?"

Chantal Snyman said:

"We don't have a government."

Vol asked:

"Where are your DA and Save SA now?"

Shadrack Sibiya welcomes the Commission of Inquiry

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya weighed in on the Commission of Inquiry. He welcomed its establishment.

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Sibiya spoke after National Commissioner Fannie Masemola placed him on special leave after Mkhwanazi implicated him and Mchunu in a drug syndicate that allegedly infiltrated the criminal justice system. He said the Commission would allow him to prove his innocence.

Source: Briefly News