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EFF to Madlanga: Don’t Let Another Billion Rand Venue Blow Happen

Published

2 months ago

August 7, 2025

Chiraag

EFF, Madlanga, police inquiry, public spending, Zondo Commission, inquiry venue costs, R147.9 million, Dlamini letter, Parktown venue, municipal halls, corruption inquiry, South African justice, public accountability, transparency, Joburg ETC

EFF warns Madlanga not to repeat billion-rand venue blow-up

In a bold letter that puts public spending under the spotlight once again, the EFF has called on retired Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to “account for every cent” of the new inquiry into explosive claims made by KwaZulu-Natal police chief Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The focus of the red berets’ concern? The price tag is tied to the commission’s venue. And if the past is any indication, they have reason to be worried.

R147.9 million: Who foots the bill this time?

The inquiry, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate claims of criminal infiltration and political interference in the South African Police Service, is expected to cost taxpayers close to R148 million. But the EFF’s alarm bells are ringing specifically over where and how that money will be spent.

Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini penned the letter to Madlanga, urging him to avoid falling into the same trap as the Zondo Commission, which ended up costing the public purse nearly R1 billion. A huge chunk of that went toward leasing the Hill on Empire building in Parktown, Johannesburg.

According to Dlamini, “This expense was not incidental; it was one of the single largest cost drivers over the commission’s lifespan.”

No more ‘elitist’ venues, says the EFF

Dlamini insists this is about more than just saving money. The party is also questioning whether the venues chosen for these inquiries are accessible to the public or whether they serve only an elite few.

He raised concerns around:

Inflated lease prices,
Lack of transparency in procurement, and
Politically connected landlords benefiting while ordinary South Africans foot the bill.

Instead, the EFF is proposing a simple alternative: use a municipal hall or publicly owned space, not a luxury office block.

Lessons from Zondo: Public trust at stake

Referencing the Zondo Commission again, Dlamini pointed to contracts awarded to Tiso Blackstar and Redefine Properties as red flags. He claimed that the legitimacy of those deals was never fully explained and that repeating this would risk undermining the credibility of the new inquiry before a single witness is heard.

In the letter, Dlamini warns that opting for a similar high-cost, private venue would be “financially reckless and contrary to the public interest.”

The EFF says they are not trying to derail the inquiry but rather safeguard its integrity and ensure that public money is used transparently and responsibly.

A new inquiry in a tense political moment

The stakes are high. The commission, which began in July 2025, is mandated to produce a preliminary report within three months and a final one in six. Its goal is to get to the bottom of Mkhwanazi’s claims that political forces are meddling in police work.

For many South Africans already feeling the sting of inflation, rising crime, and distrust in state institutions, the success and credibility of this inquiry will matter. But just as importantly, how much it costs and who benefits from that money will be watched closely.

The EFF’s intervention may strike some as posturing, but it reflects growing frustration over the unchecked costs of government processes that are supposed to serve the public.

Transparency now, trust later

In a time when every rand counts, the EFF is clearly betting on public support for more transparency and less luxury when it comes to justice. Whether Madlanga takes their advice remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the public will be paying attention, and this time, the bill is not just financial.