Mchunu allegedly tried to disrupt the investigation of criminals involved in funding his political campaigns by ordering the closure of the Political Killings Task Team. The task team was established in 2018 to investigate politically motivated murders in high-risk areas like KwaZulu-Natal province.

Along with questions about why he ordered the task team’s closure, the allegations raise the issue of how to limit improper interference in policing.

Section 207(2) of the country’s constitution authorises the minister to issue national policing policy and ‘directions’ to the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner. The minister’s role is to ensure that the elected government’s political mandate is translated into operational policing in line with constitutional principles. On that basis, the minister can set policy and priorities, and issue strategic directions to the National Commissioner.

Political interference is often intended to prevent politicians or their allies from standing trial for alleged crimes. During the state capture period, executive powers were repeatedly used to appoint personnel who protected the president or others from investigation and prosecution.

Improper influence is more likely to be exercised through verbal rather than written communication

In 2012 allegations against then police minister, the late Nathi Mthethwa, included interference to shield politically aligned head of police crime intelligence, Richard Mdluli, from disciplinary measures. Similar recent testimony before the Madlanga Commission claimed that a former city manager obstructed disciplinary measures against a senior Ekurhuleni metropolitan police official linked to alleged organised crime kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Inappropriate political influence over police may also be used to target adversaries. A court judgment found that in 2008, Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza ordered police to deny protection to someone with whom he was in conflict over a land matter. That case illustrates that improper influence over police is not confined to the police minister, and may include provincial or local government politicians.

It is widely believed that to eliminate such political interference, the police minister must be authorised to issue policy but not intervene in operational policing. But this approach wrongly assumes that policy and operations are clearly distinct.

For example, a directive to focus police personnel on a specific crime problem – which may involve setting up or closing task teams – is simultaneously about operations and policy. Such a directive would have immediate operational consequences, including depriving other units, task teams or police stations of personnel. As it is linked to determining crime priorities, it is simultaneously about policy.

Police resources are often deployed in response to political influence, especially in setting up SAPS task teams and specialised units. This applies not only to the establishment of the Political Killings Task Team, but to the creation of task teams to combat economic-infrastructure crimes in 2022, and in the commitment of SAPS resources to address extortion.

ISS’ submission to the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee calls for legislation to prevent improper interference

Resourcing of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units – now an entrenched feature of the SAPS with 176 units in existence – is a consequence of political pressure on the police to improve services to victims.

For some, Mchunu’s directive to close the Political Killings Task Team exceeded his authority. Others argue that the primary irregularity was the absence of consultation, notably with National Commissioner Fannie Masemola. The failure to properly consider active task team investigations has also been criticised.

Political role players who seek to shut down investigative units may indeed have malign motivations. But the fact that Mchunu issued the directive in writing has enabled scrutiny of his actions. Improper influence is more likely to be exercised through verbal rather than written communication, since the former enables deniability.

In a submission to the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has argued that legislation should be passed to reduce the potential for improper interference. Rather than excluding the minister’s influence over valid policing matters, the ISS suggests that any direction from the minister should be given in writing and clearly motivated.

Such directions should also be preceded by consultation with the National Commissioner. After being issued, they should be presented for parliamentary scrutiny. This follows the approach recommended in the 2018 report of the panel of experts on professionalising the SAPS.

The ISS also argues that the law should specify a ‘minimum core’ of issues on which ministerial directions are prohibited, such as investigations of individual cases, managing public order situations, and appointing, promoting, disciplining or dismissing individual police officers.

The submission is guided by the approach followed in other countries. The Kenyan National Police Service Act, for example, requires that ministerial directions to the police be in writing. New Zealand and various Australian states have similar provisions in place.

Protecting police from inappropriate political interference is intended to support them in applying high standards of judgement based on the law and their professional expertise. At the same time, efforts to prevent the abuse of ministerial power should not exempt the police from legitimate executive authority. The danger lies in abuse, not the political direction itself.

Written by David Bruce, Independent Researcher and ISS Consultant.

Republished with permission from ISS Africa. The original article can be found here.

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A judicial commission headed by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee are investigating the allegations.

Behind the intense political and legal drama unfolding at these inquiries lie other important questions. One concerns the place of specialised units and task teams in the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) crime investigations. The Political Killings Task Team is one of many in the SAPS Detective Services division.

According to the Task Team and SAPS Crime Intelligence division head, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, the team had finalised 191 of 333 ‘political cases’ since it was established in 2018 (see table). Of these, 56 (29%) resulted in guilty verdicts. Altogether, it had secured 106 convictions, a 35% conviction rate for the 296 cases it had finalised. Khumalo said the Task Team had contributed to substantially reducing political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.

While various witnesses before the two inquiries have praised the Task Team for its effectiveness, allegations of abuse and excessive expenditure have been made against it. The dispute surrounding the Task Team highlights broader questions about the place of such teams and specialised investigation units.

The reasons for establishing a dedicated unit or task team could be the importance of the crime problem and the need for specialised skills to investigate it. Probes into politically motivated (and whistleblower) killings are certainly worth prioritising. Failure to protect democratic political activity and the opponents of corruption will enable the capture of state organs by corrupt criminal interests.

But South Africa has multiple crime types that call for prioritisation, including among others, gender-based violence, murder, armed robbery, corruption, online fraud and cybercrime.

In testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee on 16 October, Mchunu sought to refute allegations that he had ordered the closure of the Task Team for improper reasons. He said he was merely implementing a decision – approved by police leadership in June 2019 – for political killings to be investigated by specialised murder and robbery units.

It was not appropriate to privilege the safety of politicians when all people were under threat from crime, he said. ‘You need to make [the] people of South Africa feel safe, not a certain grouping of people called public representatives or councillors.’

In the SAPS, task teams are distinct from specialised units. Units are regarded as permanent structures that respond to persistent problems, whereas task teams aim to ‘stabilise’ temporary hotspots or crime types. Units are permanently resourced while task teams are funded by short-term financial allocations.

In 2024, there were 16 specialised units in the SAPS detective division. In recent years, task teams have been set up to investigate kidnapping, economic infrastructure crimes, illegal mining and extortion. SAPS press statements and media reports suggest there are at least seven local task teams to address the group of three aggravated robberies.

During the 2024 election campaign, political parties called for the establishment or strengthening of units or task teams focusing on various crime types. But SAPS has repeatedly warned about the impact of doing so.

In a 2024 presentation on the detective service, police raised concerns about the sustainability of the ‘persistent drive to establish specialised units.’ A March 2024 SAPS work study, highlighted in Mchunu’s affidavit, expressed concern about the failure to consider ‘the gap left’ at police stations when task teams are set up. It also highlighted overlapping mandates among different task teams and units.

While many specialised units and task teams have been created, the SAPS’ detective function more broadly has been neglected. SAPS employs only 18 000 detectives, although current recruitment is intended to add over 4 000 more.

Alongside these ‘general’ detectives is the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), an autonomous entity within SAPS. Its core mandate is to investigate serious corruption, organised and commercial crime. It too is understaffed and needs about double its personnel.

The current SAPS ‘detection rate’ – the percentage of cases in which suspects are arrested and charged – is a meagre 11% for murder. The conviction rate is even lower. Many detectives are overwhelmed by their caseloads, with some carrying 200 dockets or more. Countless serious crimes do not receive focused investigative attention, meaning the criminal justice system has little chance of serving as a convincing deterrent.

It is reassuring that the government, through its partnership with business, is now giving focused attention to strengthening the overall detective service. The initiative, which started in 2023, involves boosting South Africa’s response to challenges in the fields of energy, transport and logistics, crime and corruption. Before this, there had been no sustained investment in strengthening the detective service.

Testimony at the Madlanga Commission about alleged links between organised crime bosses and senior personnel in DPCI and SAPS specialised units is very worrying.

Task teams focused on specific crimes are at best a stopgap measure. More comprehensive measures are needed to establish a police and justice system trusted for its integrity and respected for reducing overall levels of murder, rape and other serious crimes.

Written by David Bruce, Independent Researcher and ISS Consultant.

Republished with permission from ISS Africa. The original article can be found here.

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The commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is tasked with what President Cyril Ramaphosa has called a mission of national urgency: to uncover the truth within allegations of a web of corruption, political interference and intimidation.

Officially known as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, the commission is holding its hearings in the main auditorium of the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College.

The establishment of the commission follows serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread influence into law enforcement, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and intelligence services.

The KZN commissioner also made allegations against the Police Minister Senzo Mchunu – alleging that he colluded with criminal elements to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in that province.

“[Since establishment], the commission’s evidence leaders and investigators have been in consultation with witnesses and following up on information within the commission’s terms of reference.

“We can confirm that the consultation [with the first witness]… was with Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi, whom the commission intends to call as its first witness,” Michaels told a media briefing last week.

“The interest shown by the South African public in this investigation is not surprising. I say so because the allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025 concern a grave subject matter: the subject of the alleged infiltration of, or exertion of undue influence on, the criminal justice system,” Madlanga said on Wednesday.

“If the allegations are proved to be true, that spells doom for South Africa’s criminal justice system. A healthy criminal justice system is key to the rule of law and, in turn, to a functioning constitutional democracy,” Madlanga said.

Safeguarding the nation

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the commission during a Sunday evening national address in July after Mkhwanazi’s own media briefing detailing his allegations.

At the time, the President noted that the provincial commissioner’s allegations “raise serious concerns around the Constitution, the rule of law and national security”.

“These allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption.

“As we intensify the fight against crime, it is vital that we safeguard the integrity and credibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies.

“These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation,” the President said.

He set out the parameters of the commission’s work which includes investigating:

The facilitation of organised crime
Suppression or manipulation of investigations
Inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership
The commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistleblowers or officials resisting criminal influence

“The commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations.

“These institutions are the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, the Judiciary and Magistracy, and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane,” he said.

The commission will also probe whether any “members of the National Executive responsible for the criminal justice system, were complicit, aided and abetted, or participated in the acts mentioned above”.

Swift action

President Ramaphosa explained that the Madlanga Commission has the power to “refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution” with interim reports expected after three and six months.

“It is critical that these matters be attended to with the necessary urgency and thoroughness.

“The commission is expected to complete its work and submit a final report to the President. The final report of the commission will [also] be sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice,” he said.

Lisa Schickerling, Democratic Alliance Spokesperson on Police, on Wednesday said the Madlanga commission must pursue the truth without fear or favour. “South Africans cannot afford another inquiry that tiptoes around political heavyweights or shields the well-connected. Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations of collusion between politicians, senior police officers, prosecutors, intelligence operatives and even elements of the judiciary have shaken public confidence. Only a fearless and thorough process can begin to restore trust.”

The Madlanga Commission runs parallel to the Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee established to investigate Mkhwanazi’s allegations.

The Democratic Alliance said the commission must lay bare the scale of political interference and criminal infiltration across law enforcement and justice structures. Every individual implicated must be held to account, with swift referrals for suspension, disciplinary action, or criminal prosecution. Whistleblowers and witnesses must be protected so they can speak without fear.

The final report must propose urgent, practical reforms to restore integrity to SAPS, the NPA and intelligence services and these proposals must be implemented by the executive without delay.

“This inquiry cannot become another expensive talk shop. It must mark a turning point in crushing the syndicates that thrive on political protection and in rebuilding faith in the rule of law,” Schickerling concluded.

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development welcomes commission start

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Xola Nqola, has welcomed the commencement of proceedings of the Madlanga Commission, which was originally scheduled to begin public hearings on 1 September 2025. However, its start was delayed due to procurement challenges. Nqola noted that these obstacles have now been resolved:

“The committee welcomes the speedy resolution of the procurement matters that caused the delays. This demonstrates that government takes the process seriously and has acted decisively to remove obstacles to ensure a smooth and timely start,” he said.

The committee had previously expressed concern that the delay was linked to administrative and procurement failures within the Department of Justice. During a media briefing, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi acknowledged that certain issues could have been avoided. She announced that the Director-General of the department, Advocate Doc Mashabane, and Deputy Director-General for Information and Communication Technology, Jabu Hlatshwayo, were placed on immediate suspension pending investigation and disciplinary processes.

Nqola stressed the importance of the commission, saying: “We are grateful that the process has now begun. This commission is critical to restoring credibility in our country’s criminal justice system. We wish Justice Madlanga and his team well and every success in achieving their objectives.”

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The allegations will soon be the subject of inquiries by the Madlanga Commission and a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee. Hopefully, both will uncover considerable details about the alleged crimes highlighted.

Mkhwanazi’s briefing spotlighted a written instruction by then police minister Senzo Mchunu on 31 December 2024, for the Political Killings Task Team to immediately be shut down.

He implied that the directive was intended to obstruct the investigation of criminal networks that enjoy the protection of corrupt politicians and are potentially linked to the murder of whistleblowers. Mkhwanazi appeared to assert that senior police were also complicit in preventing further investigation of these cases.

His allegations raise questions about whether Mchunu acted reasonably and justifiably in ordering the task team’s closure, or had improper motives.

It is widely believed that Mchunu’s instruction constituted unlawful interference in South African Police Service (SAPS) operational matters. However the boundary between operations and policy is not always clear. Indeed Section 207(2) of the country’s constitution authorises the minister to issue ‘directions’ to the SAPS national commissioner, with no explicit limit on what these may provide.

It is also likely that, over the years, ministerial and other political influence has frequently been brought to bear on police operational decision making.

Whether Mchunu’s order to close the task team constituted inappropriate interference is likely to be debated at both inquiries. But the more important question is whether the former minister’s motives were improper. His written instruction sheds little light on the matter, stating simply that the team is ‘no longer required nor is it adding any value to policing in South Africa.’

In many parts of South Africa, political power is exercised corruptly to secure access to state financial resources. However, it is in KwaZulu-Natal that lethal violence is most likely to be mobilised to advance corrupt political interests. Political killings in the province are facilitated by the fact that it is the primary source of izinkabi (hitmen) in South Africa.

The contamination of state institutions by political factional rivalries extends into the police. According to the 2018 report of the Moerane Commission on political murders in KwaZulu-Natal, ‘state institutions, particularly security institutions, are being manipulated by politicians.

For most of the past 17 years, South Africa’s police minister has been from KwaZulu-Natal. No police minister is known to have tried to limit political influence on the police.

The task team may have been contaminated by political influence since its inception. It was established in 2016 under Nathi Nhleko, who was appointed police minister by former president Jacob Zuma in 2014. The Zuma administration engaged in overt manipulation of the criminal justice system.

A second iteration of the task team was launched in July 2018 under the watch of an Inter-Ministerial Committee. But in practice, Bheki Cele, an influential KwaZulu-Natal politician appointed police minister in February 2018, was the committee’s only public representative. He said the task team would incorporate assistance from the National Prosecuting Authority and other state agencies.

Though the task team has a reputation for effectiveness, its impact on political killings is unclear. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime reported 15 political killings in KwaZulu-Natal in 2021 and 21 in 2022 – constituting at least 50% of the national total in both years. In 2023, 61% of the country’s 31 political killings happened in KwaZulu-Natal.

Cele provided figures for the task team’s arrests and convictions at various press briefings. To show effectiveness, investigative units tend to pursue cases that are ‘easy wins’, and the task team is likely to have done the same. As a result, the masterminds who recruited the izinkabi may have received less investigative attention.

A further question is whether the task team selected cases based on political considerations or other irregular motives.

If Mchunu had reasonable justification for his instruction, this may have originated in his own knowledge of the interface between policing and politics in the province. It may also have been influenced by an October 2024 submission from KwaZulu-Natal academic and violence monitor, Mary de Haas.

She appealed to Mchunu to disband the task team, referring to allegations of political manipulation, malicious arrest and prosecution of law enforcement officials refusing to participate in improper investigations.

Before taking the top policing job in KwaZulu-Natal in 2021, Mkhwanazi served as acting provincial commissioner from May 2018 to July 2019. He is unique among senior SAPS leaders for having openly resisted political interference.

In 2012, as acting SAPS national commissioner, he resisted political pressure from then police minister Nathi Mthethwa to withdraw the suspension of Richard Mdluli and reinstate him as head of crime intelligence. Mdluli was suspected of serious criminal offences, and has subsequently been convicted for some of them.

But since becoming KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, it is unclear whether Mkhwanazi has taken steps to ensure the task team’s impartiality and integrity. The relationship between Mchunu and Mkhwanazi appears to have been marked by acrimony and distrust; it is unclear why.

Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and SAPS National Commissioner Fannie Masemola said last week that the investigation of political killings and other assassinations, including those of whistleblowers, was important for addressing corruption and organised crime. Hopefully, improved investigation of such killings will be among the outcomes of the two forthcoming inquiries.

In assessing Mchunu’s instruction to shut down the task team, both inquiries will need to examine whether it effectively investigated political killings or used its powers selectively and inappropriately.

Written by David Bruce, Independent Researcher and ISS Consultant.

Republished with permission from ISS Africa. The original article can be found here.

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This is according to Amnesty International South Africa’s Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed, who said that anything less than a thorough investigation “is a blatant disregard for ensuring the protection of everyone’s rights to safety and life in South Africa. This cannot be just another inquiry that leads to no justice or accountability.”

In addition to investigating the allegations, the Commission will report on the effectiveness or failure of existing oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing infiltration of law enforcement agencies.

Taking into consideration the nature of the allegations and evidence uncovered, the Commission will have the power to refer matters for immediate criminal investigations and prosecutions. The Commission itself, however, is not a criminal proceeding and action will need to be taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability.

“People in South Africa are tired of costly commissions that are long drawn out and lead to no accountability. The mere fact that another commission is being established is an indictment of our justice system and state institutions. We need to see concrete and enforceable action to fight crime and not more processes that delay justice. President Ramaphosa has an opportunity, and the power, to tackle corruption within the state quickly and decisively. Failure to do so has a massive impact on the rights of the people who live in South Africa”, Mohamed said.

The cost of a failing criminal justice system

Amnesty International South Africa said it has documented many instances of the failure of the criminal justice system to deliver justice for victims and survivors of crime. Fikile Ntshangase was an environmental activist and human rights defender who was silenced with six bullets five years ago. There have still been no arrests for her murder. Lindokuhle Mnguni and Nokuthula Mabaso were activists and human rights defenders part of the Abahlali baseMjondolo movement who were killed in 2022, and there has still been no accountability for their deaths.

“We are seeing a decline in the ability of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to resolve murders, and clear failures in their ability to respond to and investigate crimes. While the commission of inquiry is underway, the President must ensure the proper management of law enforcement agencies and ensure that crime does not worsen over this period,” Mohamed said.

There is already a widespread lack of trust in the police. Research by the Human Sciences Research Council shows that public confidence in the SAPS is generally low, dipping after key moments of intense violence and brutality, like the Marikana massacre and the unrest in July 2021. An Afrobarometer survey also showed that only 26% of people surveyed had “somewhat” or “a lot” of trust in police. The lack of trust in the police contributes to an environment of impunity, impacting people’s willingness to report crimes and on trust in the rule of law, Amnesty International said.

“We remind SAPS of the governing principles for national security provided in the South African Constitution, that ‘National security must reflect the resolve of South Africans, as individuals and as a nation, to live as equals, to live in peace and harmony, to be free from fear and want and to seek a better life’. We reiterate our call for the protection of whistleblowers during the Commission’s proceedings,” Amnesty International said.

Explosive allegations

On 6 July 2025, Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a press conference where he publicly accused the Minister of Police, members of SAPS, the judiciary, and high level politicians of colluding with criminal syndicates. Mkhwanazi accused the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, of interfering in investigations and disbanding the political task team on political killings for ulterior motives.

Ramaphosa subsequently established a Commission of Inquiry headed by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Madlanga to investigate the allegations. The Commission of Inquiry will be required to provide interim reports within three months, and then again at the six month mark. The final report will be submitted to the President, Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of South Africa. The Speaker of the National Assembly has also directed three portfolio committees of parliament to consider the allegations against Minister Mchunu.

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The committee is empowered by National Assembly Rule 253 and was established following the allegations made by General Mkhwanazi. Mr Lekganyane said in his opening remarks that the matters before the committee are of grave concern to South Africa. “Wherever there would have been unscrupulous activities, South Africans would want us to rise to the occasion and unearth it,” said the Chairperson.

The committee is tasked to investigate the veracity and implications of all the allegations made by Gen Mkhwanazi about organs of state and criminal syndicates operating in the country, emphasised Mr Lekganyane.

In its first meeting, the committee agreed that the draft terms of reference guiding its work should be finalised by Friday. Members of the committee will have an opportunity to make input into the terms of reference before that date. The committee also directed the Parliament Legal Services to ensure that all aspects relating to the process and rights of citizens are protected.

Mr Lekganyane said the role of the committee is to unearth the truth about the allegations and to provide a way forward for Parliament. The committee will meet next week to further discuss its terms of reference and programme.

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The provincial commissioner made several allegations about an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread into law enforcement and intelligence services as well as allegations implicating the judiciary, prosecutors, politicians and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

The Police Minister has been placed on leave of absence by the President.

Justice and Constitutional Development Committee chairperson, Xola Nqola, said: “The National Prosecuting Authority, as well as the Judiciary and Magistracy are pillars of the criminal justice system and constitutional rule of law. They are the guardians of justice and accountability, and we cannot have a question mark hanging over them, causing the public to lose confidence in our justice system.”

Police Portfolio Committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, said: “The announcement of the establishment of a commission will surely enable a process to root out corruption from the SAPS. It is important that the establishment of the commission is not merely cosmetic but facilitates greater reflection and steps to rejuvenate the entire criminal justice system.”

Last week, National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, mandated the two committees and the Intelligence Committee to consider Mkhwanazi’s allegations.

In that regard, the committees are expected to meet this week to consider the way forward and report back to Didiza.

Ramaphosa assured South Africans that government is hard at work to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of the police service.

The President made these remarks in his weekly newsletter to the nation, just a day after announcing the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate serious allegations made by Mkhwanazi.

“We have taken this decisive step because we are determined that the important work that has been done to rebuild our law enforcement agencies and security services should not be compromised.

“It is necessary that we establish the facts through an independent, credible and thorough process so that we can safeguard public confidence in the police service. This is particularly important as we seek to put the era of state capture behind us,” the President said.

The commission of inquiry, to be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will investigate allegations made by General Mkhwanazi that the Minister of Police and others had colluded to interfere with police investigations.

The commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.

Among the allegations that the commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistleblowers or officials resisting criminal influence.

“The commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations,” the President said.

Institutions under scrutiny include the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, the Judiciary and Magistracy, and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.

The commission will also investigate whether any members of the National Executive responsible for the criminal justice system, were complicit, aided and abetted, or participated in the acts mentioned above.

The commission will be asked to report on the effectiveness or failure of oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing such infiltration.

It will make findings and recommendations for criminal prosecutions, disciplinary actions and institutional reform.

Once established, the commission shall consider prima facie evidence relating to the involvement of individuals currently employed within law enforcement or intelligence agencies.

Where appropriate, the commission must make recommendations on the employment status of such officials, including whether they should be suspended pending the outcome of further investigations.

The commission will also be empowered to refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, taking into account the nature of the allegations and evidence the commission will uncover.

In order for the commission to execute its functions effectively, the President decided to put the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect. He said the Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the commission to enable it to do its work.

In his place, the President has appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police. Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as an MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that the commission is being established against the backdrop of significant progress in rebuilding and strengthening the country’s law enforcement agencies and security services.

In recent years, the South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and other bodies have been making important inroads in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

“It is essential that we maintain this momentum and that we intensify this work. We will ensure that the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies continue to function without hindrance as the commission undertakes its work,” the President said.

He called on all members of the law enforcement agencies and security services to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and adhering to their code of conduct.

“I call on all South Africans to support the commission in its work and, where appropriate, to provide any information or assistance the commission may require.

“In establishing this Commission of Inquiry, we are affirming our commitment to the rule of law, to transparency and accountability, and to building a South Africa in which all people are safe and secure,” he said.

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The President has also announced a judicial commission of inquiry – led by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga – into the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The President made the announcements during an address to the nation on Sunday evening.

During a media briefing last week, Mkhwanazi made several allegations about an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread into law enforcement and intelligence services.

Mkhwanazi also made allegations against the Police Minister – alleging that Mchunu colluded with criminal elements to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KwaZulu-Natal.

During the address to the nation, the President emphasised that the allegations “call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation”.

“To address these allegations and the implications of these allegations, I am establishing a judicial commission of Inquiry, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. Justice Madlanga will be assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC.

“In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu, on a leave of absence with immediate effect. The Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to do its work,” President Ramaphosa said.

Mkhwanazi had also made allegations about the uncovering of a drug cartel, implicating, amongst others, the judiciary, law enforcement, prosecutors and politicians.

The President said these allegations “raise serious concerns around the Constitution, the rule of law and national security”.

“These allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption.

“South Africans are concerned about corruption and the rise of criminality in our country, which manifests itself in the killing of innocent people, gender-based violence, gang violence, kidnappings, construction mafia criminality and many others.

“As we intensify the fight against crime, it is vital that we safeguard the integrity and credibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies,” President Ramaphosa said.

With the Police Minister now on a leave of absence, Professor Firoz Cachalia has been appointed as acting Minister  in terms of Section 91(3)(c) of the Constitution.

“Professor Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as a MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng.

“Professor Cachalia will be retiring from his current position at the University of Witwatersrand at the end of July. I will appoint an Acting Minister from within Cabinet until Professor Cachalia takes up his post at the beginning of August,” the President said.

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The figures, broken down by province and category, paint a grim picture of delayed justice in cases ranging from police brutality and torture to rape, corruption and fatal incidents involving police officers.

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape Carry the Burden

The highest number of unresolved cases is in KwaZulu-Natal, with 4,135 active files. This is followed by Gauteng with 3,492 cases, the Western Cape with 2,505, and the Eastern Cape with 2,167. Together, these four provinces account for nearly 80 percent of the total national backlog.

Other provinces such as Mpumalanga, with 1,151 cases, and Limpopo, with 558, also report significant numbers, although considerably lower. The North West recorded 339 cases, Free State 274, and Northern Cape 164. The National Specialised Investigative Team (NSIT) and the Ad-hoc National Task Team (ANTT) reported 94 and 28 cases respectively.

Assault and Firearm Complaints Dominate Caseload

By classification, the vast majority of active cases relate to assault by police officials, making up 9,306 of the total. Complaints about the improper discharge of official firearms follow at 2,312, while 1,486 cases involve deaths allegedly caused by police action. Other disturbing categories include 97 allegations of rape by police officers, two alleged rapes in custody, 1,020 cases involving torture, and 193 incidents of corruption.

There are also 269 other unspecified criminal or misconduct allegations, 61 cases of systemic corruption, and one recorded instance of non-compliance with the IPID Act.

Despite the detailed breakdown of case volumes, Minister Mchunu did not disclose how long the longest-running cases in each province have remained unresolved. This omission leaves uncertainty about how delayed some investigations may be, raising concerns over the prospects of justice being served for victims and affected families.

Backlog Strategy in Motion, Retired Detectives Recruited

In response to the question of how this growing backlog is being tackled, Minister Mchunu stated that IPID has implemented a dedicated backlog strategy. As part of this initiative, six retired detectives have been enlisted to assist with clearing overdue investigations. These specialists are currently deployed in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, the provinces with the highest volumes of complex and serious cases.

The deployment is intended as a short- to medium-term measure to boost investigative capacity and fast-track case closures. However, the Minister did not specify performance targets, timelines or the anticipated impact on the backlog.

While the involvement of experienced investigators is a positive step, the scale of the problem suggests that structural changes may be needed to ensure sustainable case resolution rates going forward.

SAPS Not Permitted to Assist

The South African Police Service (SAPS) plays no part in the backlog reduction strategy. Mchunu reaffirmed that IPID’s investigations must remain completely independent, particularly because the cases involve alleged misconduct by SAPS members themselves. Any involvement from SAPS in assisting or influencing investigations would constitute a conflict of interest and undermine the Directorate’s integrity.

As a result, IPID has opted to strengthen its internal capacity without relying on SAPS support. While this approach protects investigative independence, it may also limit the resources and operational reach available to IPID unless additional support or funding is provided by the state.

The sheer volume of unresolved cases raises pressing concerns about institutional accountability, public confidence in law enforcement, and the capacity of oversight bodies to ensure justice in a timely manner.

Civil society organisations and legal advocates have long warned that delayed investigations into police misconduct risk emboldening impunity, especially when serious crimes such as rape, torture and fatal shootings are involved.

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Strategy and Resources

The SAPS confirmed that rural safety, with a specific focus on stock theft prevention, remains a top priority. The cornerstone of their efforts is the Rural Safety Strategy, implemented in 2020. This multi-year plan aims to bolster safety in rural areas through integrated policing and collaboration with stakeholders such as the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, and organised farming bodies.

Key interventions under the strategy include:

• Establishing Rural Safety Priority Committees at all levels of government.

• Partnering with the National Stock Theft Forum and Stock Theft Information Centres (STICs).

• Linking SAPS operations to private security networks through the Eyes and Ears (E2) project.

• Engaging in cross-border initiatives under SARPCCO and SADC frameworks.

To bolster investigative capacity, SAPS developed a Stock Theft Prevention and Investigation Guideline in 2023/24 and conducted nationwide training. A total of 263 investigators have completed the Stock Theft Investigators’ Learning Programme. Specialised Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units (ST&ESUs) have been established in all nine provinces, with 93 units operational nationally.

Livestock in Pounds

The SAPS provided figures on livestock currently impounded:

• Public pounds: 71 animals

• Private pounds: 652 animals

The Eastern Cape and North West provinces account for the majority of livestock held in private facilities, with 211 and 349 animals respectively.

Livestock Not Returned to Owners

Data over the past three financial years shows a sharp rise in livestock not returned to owners:

• 2022/23: 2 animals

• 2023/24: 82 animals (many forfeited to the state)

• 2024/25: 328 animals

The Eastern Cape alone reported 225 unreturned animals this year, while North West saw 66 cases.

Challenges and Disposal Procedures

Three primary challenges hinder the return of livestock:

1. Non-compliance with the Animal Identification Act, which mandates livestock marking.

2. Owners’ inability to pay pound-related fees.

3. Animal deaths due to illness while impounded.

Disposal of unclaimed or seized livestock is managed according to the SAPS National Instruction 8 of 2017: Property and Exhibit Management, particularly sections addressing livestock and the disposal of exhibits. These procedures include proper documentation, legal processes, and potential forfeiture to the state.

While the SAPS has outlined a structured and multi-agency approach to stock theft, the growing number of unreturned animals signals ongoing challenges in enforcement, compliance, and rural safety logistics. The issue remains a critical point of concern for both food security and economic stability in South Africa’s agricultural regions.

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