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Madlanga Commission to Deliver Long-Awaited First Report on 17 December

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7 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Chiraag

Madlanga Commission inquiry, South African judiciary concerns, Ramaphosa legal update, Pretoria High Court proceedings, national policing reforms, Joburg ETC

A crucial deadline for a country demanding answers

South Africa has been holding its breath for more than a year. Now there is finally a date on the horizon. President Cyril Ramaphosa expects the Madlanga Commission to hand in its first report by 17 December, which marks a significant moment in the battle to restore trust in policing and the justice system.

The update emerged in a charged Pretoria High Court session where Ramaphosa’s legal counsel, Advocate Nyoko Muvangua, confirmed that the commission is back on schedule after months of delays. The hearing formed part of the MK Party and former president Jacob Zuma’s legal challenge against a series of decisions taken by the president, which include placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave, appointing Firoz Cachalia as National Director of Public Prosecutions, and establishing the inquiry itself.

Why the commission exists

The Madlanga Commission was created during a period of growing public anxiety about political influence inside the country’s law enforcement agencies. Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga was appointed chair because the president believed only an independent, high-level inquiry could properly examine the allegations that senior police officers, politicians, and even members of the judiciary were acting in concert with criminal networks for personal gain.

The concerns reached a boiling point earlier this year when KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi publicly claimed that influential figures across government and law enforcement were working hand in hand with criminals for financial benefit. His allegations injected new urgency into the national conversation about institutional capture and the weakening of internal safeguards.

Legal battles and political theatre

Inside the Palace of Justice, the MK Party argued through Advocate Dali Mpofu that Ramaphosa had gone beyond his executive authority. Mpofu presented the commission as an overreach, saying the president’s moves were unconstitutional.

Muvangua pushed back firmly. She told the court that every decision had a clear legal basis and that none of the arguments before the bench justified setting them aside. She added that the commission’s deadlines were again aligned with its terms of reference. Its final report remains due by 17 March next year.

For observers both inside and outside the court, the clash reflected deeper national tensions. Many South Africans have grown impatient with slow internal reforms and want answers. Others worry about political interference in the justice system from every direction. The commission sits right in the middle of this debate.

Where the commission stands now

The inquiry has progressed into its second phase. This is the point where individuals who have been implicated must formally answer to the allegations against them. Only once these responses are considered can Justice Madlanga and his team shape their conclusions and suggest reforms.

The December deadline will give the public its first real look at what investigators have uncovered so far. If delivered on time, the report could reshape discussions about accountability within the police and prosecutorial structures.

A country watching closely

Public conversation has been lively on social platforms, ranging from cautious hope to outright scepticism. Some readers believe the commission represents a rare opportunity to clean house, while others fear political rivalry could overshadow its work. What remains certain is that the findings will have a national impact. South Africans have long called for an honest assessment of the issues that have weakened trust in the institutions meant to protect them.

As the festive season approaches, all eyes turn to 17 December. It is more than just a date. It is a moment that may determine whether the country moves closer to stability or continues wrestling with the same unresolved questions.