Web of Deceit: New Commission of Inquiry Criticised

By Reporter
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry, established by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations of corruption within the South African Police Service, has received widespread criticism regarding whether it will lead to accountability and any subsequent prosecutions.
This judicial commission, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, together with Advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo, is expected to bring transparency despite having two reports on investigations into similar shortcomings that have not yielded any positive outcomes.
Some of the popular commissions of inquiry established by the president since he served in his term, are the State Capture report better known as the Zondo Commission which was established to investigate corruption and fraud in the public sector in 2018 and National Anti-corruption advisory council report which was established to investigate Covid-19 tender fraud in 2022 which have not led to any arrests to date.
Last Sunday, Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the commission and placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and National Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya on leave of absence after KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu and Sibiya of being in the pockets of criminals and abruptly disbanding an effective political killing task team during a media briefing.
Mkhwanazi, during his explosive media briefing earlier this month, accused Mchunu of corruption and political interference within the SAPS and protecting a drug cartel operating in the country.
Ramaphosa has in the interim appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police.
Political Parties have come out guns blazing, saying they have no confidence that this commission will hold the police officials accountable.
DA leader John Steenhuisen welcomed the special leave announcement but criticised the commission of inquiry’s formation, saying these commissions are usually seen as buying time and avoiding accountability.
“The DA will not accept a years-long process that gathered damning evidence only to deliver zero accountability. The country cannot afford another elaborate filing cabinet of findings that gathers dust while the politically connected escape justice. The DA will hold the president to account on every finding and recommendation made by this committee, and we will fight in cabinet and parliament for swift and visible action,” said Steenhuisen.
Spokesperson for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, accused Ramaphosa of having failed to take South Africans into confidence.
“This president had an opportunity to take South Africa into confidence and to deal with these issues decisively. Instead, he calls for a commission of inquiry, and he expects South Africa to be patient when people are dying daily,” Ndlela said.