Madlanga Commissioner Advocate Sandile Khumalo Targeted in Threat and Intimidation Campaign
- Advocates for Transformation confirmed that Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC and AFT National Chairperson Advocate Myron Dewrance SC received threatening messages
- The threats were sent from multiple cellphone numbers and reportedly included details about the targets' locations and daily movements
- AFT warned that intimidation of justice actors ultimately threatens the rule of law and vowed to pursue lawful steps against those responsible
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SOUTH AFRICA — Advocates for Transformation (AFT) has raised the alarm over a serious intimidation campaign targeting Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC, who is currently involved in the Madlanga Commission, as well as the organisation's National Chairperson, Advocate Myron Dewrance SC.
According to News24, the threatening messages, sent from multiple cellphone numbers, repeatedly named both Khumalo and Dewrance while invoking AFT. Some of those behind the messages claimed knowledge of the targets' locations, workplaces and daily movements, extending the threats to members of Dewrance's family and his circle of friends.
Threats escalate to sexual violence
AFT has flagged a particularly disturbing escalation in the nature of the messages, which have now crossed into explicit threats of sexual violence against women connected to those being targeted.
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The organisation believes the campaign may be connected to disciplinary proceedings against a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA) who was charged with serious professional misconduct. At the time the proceedings were initiated, Khumalo served as chairperson of the JSA's Professional Committee and also held a position on the JSA Bar Council, having been nominated by AFT.
Some of the messages reportedly directed Dewrance and his family to "blame Sandile" for what had occurred.
AFT was careful to note, however, that its enquiries remain at a preliminary stage. The organisation has not identified who is behind the messages and is not pointing fingers at the JSA, the advocate facing disciplinary proceedings, or any other named individual.
AFT vows to protect those affected
Khumalo's role at the Madlanga Commission, which is investigating allegations of corruption, criminality and interference within South Africa's criminal justice system, places him at the centre of one of the country's most high-profile accountability processes.
AFT argued that threats directed at justice professionals, their families and associates cannot be written off as personal disputes. The organisation stated that when those working within the administration of justice are intimidated, the integrity of the rule of law itself comes under threat.
The organisation confirmed it will pursue lawful measures to protect those affected and to ensure that whoever is responsible is ultimately held accountable. The identity of the alleged perpetrators has not yet been established.
Madlanga Commission reveals the Big 5
Briefly News also reported that the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry released an image identifying five alleged members of the Big Five criminal syndicate before it went on its hiatus. During the testimony of former Hawks Head General Lebeya, Evidence leader Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube bought faces to a cartel whose influence over South Africa's law-enforcement apparatus has allegedly emerged as a central theme of proceedings.
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Source: Briefly News
