The Madlanga Commission, set to investigate criminality, political interference, and corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice system, has postponed its hearings initially scheduled for 1 September 2025.
The delay is linked directly to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, which has yet to provide the essential infrastructure needed for the hearings to proceed. The Commission clarified that the delay was beyond its control, despite earlier assurances from the Department that everything would be ready on time.
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“In the media statement of 20 August 2025, the Commission stated that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development was in the process of procuring the Commission’s infrastructure requirements that were necessary for the Commission to commence its hearings,” the Commission said.
Madlanga Commission Ready to Start but Waiting on Justice Department
Spokesperson Jeremy Michaels confirmed the Commission is fully prepared to begin, but delays by the Department left them with no choice but to push back the start date.
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“It made this announcement based on unequivocal commitments made to it by the Department that the requirements would have been procured in time. Unfortunately, those commitments have not been met,” Michaels said.
“But for the lack of the requirements that the Department has failed to procure, the Commission would otherwise have been ready to commence the hearings on 1 September 2025. Regrettably, the Commission is now left with no choice but to reschedule the starting date.”
Delay Threatens Interim Report Timeline, Commission Promises Quick Start
The postponement affects the three-month window allocated for the Commission’s interim report. Michaels noted that no witnesses have yet been heard, meaning critical time has already been lost.
“What is most regrettable is that a substantial portion of the three-month period at the end of which the Commission is expected to submit an interim report has gone by without the Commission having heard a single witness. This is not of the Commission’s making,” he said.
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The Commission stressed it will only set a new start date once all infrastructure is in place, assuring the public of swift action.
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“The Commission considers it best to fix a new date for the commencement of its hearings once everything that needs to be procured by the Department is in place.
“It also wishes to assure South Africans that it is doing everything within its power to ensure that the first witness will take the stand as soon as possible after everything has been procured by the Department,” Michaels added.
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