The Madlanga Commission will continue today with KwaZulu-Natal’s police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has alleged there have been various plots to disrupt investigations into a criminal syndicate in South Africa.
Mkhwanazi was testifying on Thursday, 18 September 2025, on the second day of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
With the commission’s chair, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, and advocate Sandile Khumalo at the Madlanga Commission Of Inquiry on Day 2 at Brigitte Mabandla Judicial College on September 18, 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the creation of the Madlanga Commission after Mkhwanazi made a series of startling accusations in a press conference on 6 July.
He alleged that Matlala was financially supporting the political endeavours of Senzo Mchunu, the police minister currently on leave due to allegations. Mkhwanazi alleged that this was why individuals in South Africa’s historically beleaguered Crime Intelligence division were targeted – to subvert the unit.
He also claimed attempted murder accused Vusi “Cat” Matlala was “enjoying too much privilege from law enforcement” – even having the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department fit his vehicles with blue emergency lights. Matlala’s cars were illegally registered as municipal vehicles.
He also said a dodgy traffic officer registered cars for alleged hitman Katiso Molefe and linked Brown Mogotsi to politicians and police.
Another of Mkhwanazi’s allegations involves Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) which, having been formalised last year, falls under the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
“There is activities that are happening in the Idac that are not in line with what the purpose of the formation of the entity is, and that there are two structures in Idac,” he stated.
“There’s a good structure that is dealing with the Zondo Commission [that previously investigated State Capture] and there’s another structure that is malicious that is used as a weapon to further disrupt the criminal justice operations.”
Mkhwanazi accused police officers and businessmen of working together to give favours to alleged criminals, calling it a network of privilege that looked like a “blue-light cartel”.
Cece Smith 