Ramaphosa Signals Criminal Referrals as Explosive Madlanga Commission Report Lands on His Desk

A report with serious implications, but not yet public

An interim report that could shape the future of South Africa’s criminal justice system has quietly landed on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s desk and the message from the Presidency is clear: criminal referrals are expected once the work is complete.

The Presidency confirmed this week that Ramaphosa has received the interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within law enforcement and the broader justice system.

While the contents remain under wraps for now, the president has indicated that where criminal conduct is identified, it should not end with findings but with prosecutions.

Why the report won’t be released yet

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stressed that only the final report of the commission will be made public. The interim document, he said, is incomplete and still subject to further testimony and clarification.

“The final report will be made available to the public,” Magwenya explained, adding that the commission will also advise the president on which parts may involve national security sensitivities and how those should be handled.

Ramaphosa is expected to study the interim report while the commission is in recess. Importantly, several witnesses are likely to be recalled to expand on their evidence or address gaps identified during earlier testimony.

A commission born out of explosive allegations

The Madlanga Commission was established earlier this year following a dramatic media briefing in July by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi alleged the existence of a sophisticated criminal syndicate operating across the state involving politicians, senior police officials, metro police, correctional services, prosecutors and even members of the judiciary. According to his claims, the network is linked to drug cartels and powerful business interests.

Those allegations sent shockwaves through the country, prompting Ramaphosa to appoint retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to chair the inquiry.

Who has testified so far

The commission has already heard evidence from some of the most senior figures in South Africa’s security establishment, including:

• Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu

• National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola

• Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

In the final phase of proceedings, Mkhwanazi is expected to return to the witness stand to respond to conflicting versions of events and clarify key aspects of his allegations.

Public reaction: cautious hope mixed with scepticism

On social media and talk radio, South Africans are watching closely but not without scepticism. Many welcome Ramaphosa’s statement that criminal acts should be referred for prosecution, seeing it as a test of whether accountability will finally follow high-level inquiries.

Others remain wary, pointing to past commissions whose findings led to few consequences. For them, the real measure of success will not be the report itself, but whether arrests and court cases follow.

Why this moment matters

The Madlanga Commission touches on one of South Africa’s deepest anxieties: whether the criminal justice system can police itself.

By signalling his expectation of criminal referrals, Ramaphosa is raising the stakes, both for those implicated and for his own administration. If acted upon decisively, the commission could mark a turning point. If not, it risks becoming another symbol of promises without follow-through.

For now, the country waits for the final report and for proof that this time, the findings will lead to real consequences.