The Defend Our Democracy Movement says given the seriousness of the allegations that the Madlanga Commission is set to investigate, there should be a greater sense of urgency and preparedness.

The remarks follow today’s announcement that the commission, which was set to start on the first of next month, has been postponed due to delays in the procurement of vital infrastructure.

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry will probe criminality, political interference, and corruption in the Criminal Justice System.

Movement Executive Director, Naledi Kuali, says the reasons behind the delays are unsatisfactory.

“What is frustrating is that this was an opportunity for the institution to instill confidence and they’ve been unable to do that. What they have done is essentially create a longer time for delivery. And that is extremely frustrating considering the institutions implicated, considering how urgently and how openly people need to be able to access these institutions. Without even preliminary discussions around what has been found and established so far, it creates room for mistrust and it also leads speculations as to why are they these delays,” says Kuali.

A new date on when the Madlanga Commission is expected to resume is not yet known.

The Madlanga Commission, which was initially expected to begin on 1 September 2025, has been postponed indefinitely after it announced that it would not begin on time due to a failure by the Justice Department to procure vital infrastructure timeously.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on Tuesday, Justice Minister Mamoloko Kubayi, says she can’t dictate when the commission will commence.

“On the issues around the date, unfortunately, as I said earlier on, I’m not allowed to be the one that dictates to the Commission when can they start. Our responsibility is to ensure that what they require to do their work is in place, with the timeframes that we have provided,” says Kubayi.

Madlanga Commission | Heads to roll over delay:

Meanwhile, SAPS Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya has denied any interference in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team. His case against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola was not heard today after his legal counsel requested a special allocation on the matter and a full bench to preside over it.

The Deputy National Commissioner was placed on leave of absence after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi linked him to criminal syndicates.

Speaking outside court, Sibiya denied allegations that there was correspondence regarding the disbandment of the task team.

“I never interfered, and what I also can say is that in the whole system, it can’t be that I’m the only one who interfered, who did this and that. Over and above, there are many people that are in the system with a matter that has been handled since January, with a lot of feedback being given, a lot of meetings being held, going in and out of Parliament discussing the same matter. Now, how do you then pin it on one individual and say, this person did 1, 2, 3, 4?” says Sibiya.

Ongama Mtimka shares insights: