The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has paused its public hearings and will only return to open proceedings on 9 November 2026, with the inquiry set to use October for in-camera hearings and preparations for its final report.
The decision was announced on Wednesday, 30 September, as the Commission continued hearing evidence relating to criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
Why the hearings are being paused
Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the decision was influenced by practical considerations surrounding the upcoming local government elections, which are scheduled for 4 November.
“Having considered a number of practicalities related to the upcoming local government elections scheduled for 4 November, the Commission will resume its public hearings on 9 November,” Michaels said.
The Commission will not sit on 2 October and will instead move into a period of in-camera hearings from the following week.
Michaels said the closed proceedings would deal with evidence that cannot be aired publicly because of ongoing investigations or because the information is confidential.
The Commission will also hold a two-day seminar during October as part of preparations for drafting its final report.
Matlala testimony postponed
The pause comes after the Commission postponed the testimony of alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Matlala had been scheduled to appear before the inquiry on Thursday, but the Commission postponed his testimony to 14 December 2026 after his legal team raised concerns about the late issuing of his subpoena.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga criticised the timing of the subpoena.
“I know, Chaskalson that you are standing in and that it’s not your matter, but it is unacceptable that Mr. Matlala was only subpoenaed on the 25th,” Madlanga said.
Evidence leader Advocate Matthew Chaskalson indicated that Matlala could potentially be called earlier if developments in his criminal trial create an available window for his appearance and sufficient notice can be given.
What happens when hearings return
When the Commission resumes public hearings on 9 November, it plans to complete Phase Two of its work before moving into Phase Three.
The next phase is expected to include the return of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to the witness stand.
Mkhwanazi’s allegations in July 2025 triggered the establishment of the Commission. He raised claims concerning criminality, political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish the inquiry.
The Commission has since heard from more than 100 witnesses, including senior law enforcement officials, investigators, prosecutors, experts, MPs and private individuals. By its one-year anniversary in September, it had accumulated more than 26,000 pages of oral testimony transcripts and more than 105,000 pages of documentary evidence.
Final report deadline extended
The latest pause also comes as the Commission works under an extended deadline for completing its work.
President Ramaphosa last week granted the Commission a final extension, moving the deadline for its final report to 25 January 2027.
The Presidency said the extension would allow the Commission to process additional evidence, including testimony from experts who have made recommendations relevant to its terms of reference.
The Commission is therefore expected to use December and January to focus on preparing its final report after the remaining public hearings and in-camera proceedings have been completed.
For now, the public-facing hearings are paused, but the inquiry’s work continues behind closed doors throughout October, with the next public sitting scheduled for 9 November.
