Senior counsel Terry Motau has broken his silence on his resignation as chief evidence leader from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Police Corruption and Criminal Cartels.
His departure, which had fuelled speculation in recent weeks, came shortly before the commission paused its hearings due to the ill health of key witness Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Motau said he had tendered his resignation on 11 September after lengthy discussions with the commission’s leadership.
He emphasised that his decision was not taken hastily or emotionally but was based on structural and administrative concerns that made it difficult for him to carry out his responsibilities effectively.
One of his main concerns was the lack of clarity around the commission’s budget. He warned that without detailed financial planning, the inquiry risked repeating the mistakes of the Zondo Commission, which exceeded one billion rand in costs and left some legal professionals unpaid.
Government has allocated 147 million rand to the Madlanga Commission, which Motau argued is limited for a task of such scale.
While he dismissed suggestions that his resignation was motivated by personal financial interests, Motau said the absence of transparent budget line items and clear task allocation created operational difficulties. He explained that these shortcomings undermined his ability to contribute meaningfully to the inquiry.
Motau’s resignation has drawn attention to the commission’s capacity to fulfil its mandate within the timeframe promised by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Although he expressed confidence in those who remain, he cautioned that unresolved administrative problems could compromise the inquiry’s work and weaken public trust, as had happened in past commissions.
Reflecting on the testimony heard so far, Motau described the evidence presented as disturbing, although he noted it still needed to withstand cross-examination.
He said the links and networks emerging from the testimony were alarming but stressed that credibility would depend on what could ultimately be proven.
Despite his departure, Motau voiced continued support for the commission’s objectives. He said he hoped his resignation would draw attention to the seriousness of the administrative issues, adding that with proper support and institutional backing, the inquiry could still deliver credible outcomes and strengthen the fight against corruption.
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