Madlanga Commission Adjourns After Safety of Key Witnesses Jeopardised
- The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry's morning session adjourned after the identification of crucial witnesses was compromised
- The testimony of Crime Intelligence Boss General Dunmisan Khumalo was expected to continue on 4 November
- However, the proceedings were paused after a security threat, prompting a discussion on social media about the safety of the witnesses
With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.
Source: Getty Images
PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The proceedings at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry were adjourned on 4 November after information about key witnesses was leaked. Sections of Crime Intelligence boss General Dumisani Khumalo's statements were also jeopardised.
The public hearings held at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Tshwane adjourned after details, including the identities of two key witnesses, were projected onto the projector screen used to show evidence. Khumalo had returned to the seat after he fell ill mysteriously, and his testimony was postponed.
In a video MDNNews posted on its @MDNnewss X account, Advocate Adilah Hassim, one of the evidence leaders, stopped the proceedings as Khumalo was testifying about organized crime. She said it came to her attention that some of the annexures and contents of Khumalo's statements have been projected onto the screen. She said that she wasn't aware until she saw posts on social media, as there was no projection on the screen.
View the X video here:
Dumisani Khumalo's testimony at Madlanga Commission
Khumalo testified after top cops, including National Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, testified. Khumalo testified about the connection police officers allegedly had with politicians. He fell sick while testifying, and the South African Police Service launched an investigation into the illness.
Source: Getty Images
What you need to know about Khumalo's testimony
- Khumalo testified about five criminal cartels allegedly operated by attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala and murder-accused Katiso Molefe
- Khumalo revealed that councillors organised their own assassination attempts to have more bodyguards
- He remarked that there was a spike in political killings after the 2021 general elections, when some politicians refused to vote in a certain way
- Khumalo also discussed WhatsApp messages between businessman Brown Mogotsi and Matlala in 2025
- Matlala expressed frustration that police minister Senzo Mchunu cancelled a R360-million South African Police Services tender
Deputy Judge President accused of receiving R2.5 million bribe
In a related article, Briefly News reported that Chief Justice Mandisa Maya discussed allegations that the Deputy Judge President, Aubrey Ledwaba, received a R2.5 million bribe for releasing a murder suspect on bail. This was after Molefe was released on bail.
Molefe was granted R400,000 bail after he was arrested for the murder of DJ Sumbody. A witness testified that Molefe set aside the R2.5 million to secure bail. Ledwaba denied the allegations. Maya said even if they were untested, they had the potential to damage the reputation of the judiciary.
Source: Briefly News
