Courts & Legal
Madlanga Commission stalls as Witness F hospitalised before key testimony
Just when it seemed the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry was gathering momentum, proceedings have hit another pause button.
On Monday, the much-anticipated testimony of Witness F could not go ahead after he was declared unavailable. According to Advocate Matthew Chaskalson, the witness has been hospitalised and requested that his appearance be postponed to March.
A medical certificate submitted to the commission states that Witness F will not be available until at least 25 February. However, because of the prior commitments of the legal teams involved, the next realistic date for him to testify is 16 March.
That date carries weight. As things stand, 16 March is also the commission’s final scheduled sitting day.
A commission already under pressure
The Madlanga Commission, chaired by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has already faced procedural hurdles in recent weeks. This latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to an inquiry that many South Africans are watching closely.
On Monday, Advocate Chaskalson told the commission that 16 March was the best available option under the circumstances. It leaves very little room for further postponements and raises the question of whether timelines may need to shift if more delays occur.
The commission had originally expected to hear from Witness F on both Monday and Tuesday, before resuming on Wednesday with the return of suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Earlier legal attempts to avoid testifying
This is not the first time Witness F’s appearance has been complicated.
He was initially scheduled to testify on 3 February but brought an urgent application to interdict his own appearance. His concern was that his testimony might expose him to potential criminal charges.
That application was dismissed by Judge Madlanga, who made it clear that the commission could not allow a witness to sidestep their legal obligations. The chair emphasised that granting such relief would undermine the Commission Act.
Witness F eventually did appear on 4 February. During that session, he spoke about instructions he received to arrest controversial blogger and social media personality Musa Khawula.
Last week, there was yet another attempt to delay proceedings through legal channels, though those efforts were ultimately abandoned.
Public interest and mounting scrutiny
Commissions of inquiry often move at a deliberate pace, but repeated postponements can test public patience. Social media conversations around the Madlanga Commission have already reflected frustration from viewers who want clarity and accountability without procedural back-and-forth.
In South Africa’s recent history, high-profile commissions have shaped public discourse in significant ways. Many citizens see these processes not just as legal exercises, but as moments of reckoning for institutions under scrutiny.
With Witness F’s testimony now pencilled in for what could be the commission’s final day, the stakes feel higher. If further delays arise, the inquiry may face difficult decisions about its schedule and scope.
For now, all eyes turn to mid-March, when the commission hopes to finally hear from a witness whose appearance has become one of its most closely watched chapters.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Global South Media Network
