The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) want the chairperson of the commission set up to investigate political interference in the criminal justice system, Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to step aside from his role to avoid tainting his legacy.

EFF’s national spokesperson, Sinawo Thambo said if Madlanga continues to chair the commission he will entangle himself in the political patronage of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The EFF’s reaction follows the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System today announcing an indefinite delay of the start of the commission.

The commission has announced that it will not begin its hearings on 1 September 2025 as originally planned.

In a statement, Madlanga said the delay was due to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s failure to procure vital infrastructure required for the proceedings.

The commission had earlier confirmed the September start date after receiving firm commitments from the department that all necessary resources would be secured in time.

However, those commitments have not been honoured, forcing a postponement.

“As a result, it has since become clear that the commission will not be able to start the hearings as scheduled,” Justice Madlanga said.

He added that were it not for the Department’s shortcomings, the commission would have been ready to proceed.

The delay is particularly concerning given the commission’s three-month reporting deadline. Justice Madlanga lamented that a significant portion of this period has already lapsed without a single witness being heard.

“This is not of the commission’s making,” he said. The commission has not yet announced a new date for the commencement of hearings.

It said it would only do so once the Department has completed the necessary procurement processes.In the meantime, Justice Madlanga sought to reassure the public that the commission remained committed to beginning its work as soon as possible.

“We are doing everything within our power to ensure that the first witness will take the stand as soon as everything has been procured,” he said.

In a statement the EFF said: “This forms part of a deliberate attempt to stifle accountability, and we are vindicated that the establishment of this commission by the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa was nothing but a pretence at action, knowing very well that there was no intention of ever holding his close political ally and current Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu accountable for the allegations against him.”

The commission was established in July following KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations that specifically implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and handing over 121 active investigation dockets to Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, where they are allegedly collecting dust.

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