Madlanga Commission of Inquiry Hearings Delayed As Witness F Is Hospitalised Before Key Testimony

• Witness F will no longer appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry due to his recent hospitalisation
• The witness was due to appear before the Commission at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College on 16 and 17 February 2026
• Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya will appear before the Commission when hearings resume on 18 February 2026

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – Witness F will not appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on 16 February 2026 as planned.

The witness, previously identified as Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, was scheduled to resume testimony on Monday, 16 February 2026, but has been hospitalised. According to his lawyers, he will be unavailable until 25 February 2025.

The latest delay has affected the Commission’s scheduling of other witnesses, with the 17 March deadline looming for the conclusion of the hearings. The Commission was set up to investigate allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption within the criminal justice system.

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The allegations were made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner alleged that Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu and General Sibiya worked together to disband the Political Killings Task Team in order to shield criminal cartels operating in the country.

Postponement application filed before Madlanga Commission

Witness F’s layers also filed a postponement application, asking that his testimony be postponed until 16 March 2026. He was due to appear for two days, where he was expected to testify further about Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya’s alleged ties to Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

General Sibiya, the Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, will appear before the Madlanga Commission on 18 February 2026. His testimony is expected to last four days. This is the second time that Witness F's testimony has been affected by health issues.

The commission has also raised concerns about the number of witnesses who were failing to appear before the commission due to sick notes. The commission is considering subpoenaing doctors who provide sick notes to witnesses.

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Why is Witness F's testimony important?

The police officer stands accused of acting as a conduit for illicit cash, allegedly collecting money on Sibiya’s behalf from Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe.

Both men are alleged to be criminal cartel leaders. Matlala also admitted during his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee that he used a South African Police Service (SAPS) officer as an errand boy.

During parts of his testimony before the commission, Witness F was also questioned about chats which implicated him in the transport of some impala from Cat Matlala to General Sibiya.

Witness F testifies about the potential sale of firearms

Briefly News reported that Witness F also testified before the Madlanga Commission about a potential sale of firearms.

The evidence leader presented chats between the anonymous witness and a nephew of a former deputy president.

South Africans took to social media to raise concerns about the involvement of police in illegal gun trading and public safety.

Source: Briefly News