President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday directed acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola to constitute a special investigations task team to investigate prima facie evidence of wrongdoing by people identified in the Madlanga Commission’s interim report.

The Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi and Advocate Sandile Khumalo, submitted its interim report to the President in December.

Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System in July 2025, following allegations made by South African Police Service (Saps) KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the existence and operation of a criminal syndicate that had allegedly infiltrated the criminal justice system.

The commission has made several referrals concerning allegations of criminality, corruption, fraud, murder, perjury and other unlawful actions by officials and officers in the employ of the Saps, City of Ekurhuleni and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD).

Prima facie evidence of wrongdoing in the Saps has been found against Major General Lesetja Senona, Major General Richard Shibiri, Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.

Prima facie evidence of wrongdoing by current and former employees of the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality (EMM) was also identified by the Commission and implicates suspended EMPD chief of police Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, EMPD officer Bafana Twala, EMPD officer Aiden McKenzie, EMPD officer Kershia Leigh Stols, EMM former city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, EMM fleet manager/proxy Chris Steyn, EMM head of department of human resources Linda Gxasheka, EMM head of legal Advocate Kemi Behari and Etienne van der Walt.

Ramaphosa said he accepted the recommendations made in the interim report and welcomed the referrals by the Commission for immediate criminal investigations and urgent decisions on prosecution, as well as recommendations on the employment status and recommended suspension of some individuals.

The President said the establishment of a special task team is critical to ensure that these investigations take place as a matter of urgency.

The Commission will make referrals to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on the status of their investigations and seek explanations for any delays.

Some of the implicated individuals will also return to the Commission to respond to allegations presented against them, while more witness testimony is expected.

The Commission emphasised that, except for EMPD chief Mkhwanazi, it had not yet heard responses from some of the relevant persons identified, thus the allegations against them remain prima facie allegations only and are not findings of the Commission.

“The nature of these allegations, however, warrants the referrals for further investigation and potential disciplinary, prosecutorial or regulatory action right away,” he said.