Black Business Council Backs Ramaphosa’s Bold Move to Tackle Police Corruption

South Africa’s latest anti-corruption commission must deliver swift justice, says business leadership

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s surprise announcement of a judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of police corruption has drawn a strong endorsement from the Black Business Council (BBC), which warned that the public’s patience is wearing thin.

In a sombre national address on Sunday evening, Ramaphosa confirmed that a powerful criminal network allegedly embedded within South Africa’s policing and legal systems would be investigated, following explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of derailing investigations into political assassinations and disbanding a special task team probing these crimes.

“South Africa is commission-fatigued”, but this one must act fast

Reacting to the announcement, BBC CEO Kganki Matabane said while the organisation welcomes the president’s move, the commission must act swiftly and transparently to avoid further public disillusionment.

“South Africa is commission-fatigued,” Matabane said. “We urge the commission to act expeditiously and move with speed without eroding the confidence and integrity of the law enforcement agencies.”

The BBC also encouraged whistleblowers, investigators and affected parties to step forward and assist the commission with facts, documents, and data to expedite justice.

Enter Firoz Cachalia: From anti-apartheid activist to acting police minister

To steer the ship in the interim, Ramaphosa appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting Minister of Police, replacing Mchunu while the inquiry unfolds. Cachalia, a seasoned legal mind and current chair of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, brings credibility to a post rocked by scandal.

Born in Benoni in 1958, Cachalia was a student activist in the fight against apartheid, a respected lawyer, and later a government official. He’s expected to assume his role in August, after retiring from his academic post at Wits University.

What sparked this commission? A tale of sabotage from within

At the centre of this crisis is Lt. Gen. Mkhwanazi’s shocking accusation: that law enforcement is compromised at the highest levels. According to his statement, politicians, prosecutors, senior police, and businesspeople have formed a criminal syndicate that manipulates cases, thwarts investigations, and protects political interests , a chilling echo of the State Capture era.

President Ramaphosa made it clear that this commission will go further than just the SAPS. It will probe infiltration into intelligence structures, the prosecuting authority, and even the judiciary.

Crisis in trust: Why this commission matters now

Public trust in the justice system is already fragile. South Africans have watched high-profile corruption cases drag on with little consequence. The 2018 Zondo Commission, while exposing state capture, left many citizens frustrated at the slow wheels of justice.

This new commission, to be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, must now restore faith in the system, not just for business, but for every South African fearing that criminals wear the uniform of the law.

“The world is watching,” said one Twitter user. “If we can’t trust the police, who do we turn to?”

Will this inquiry deliver more than headlines?

The BBC’s strong stance reflects a growing impatience across sectors. With elections looming in 2026, the Ramaphosa administration can ill afford another integrity crisis.

The question remains: Will this be the moment the state finally cleans house within its own security forces, or another commission that ends in silence?

Time and transparency will tell.

{Source: IOL}

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