Pretoria, South Africa, 18 December 2025 – President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally received the interim report of the *Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, marking a significant milestone in one of the most high-profile judicial inquiries in recent South African history.
The interim report was handed to the President on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, nearly three months after the commission began public hearings. Established by President Ramaphosa in July 2025 and chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the commission is tasked with probing serious allegations of corruption and interference that have shaken confidence in the criminal justice system.
In a statement issued by the Presidency, Ramaphosa said he will study the interim findings while the commission, which is currently in recess, prepares to hear further testimony from new or returning witnesses. The President expressed appreciation for the work undertaken to date and emphasised his expectation that the commission will, in line with its mandate, refer actions that appear to constitute criminal conduct to prosecuting authorities.
The decision not to publish the interim report publicly at this stage has attracted considerable attention. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya reiterated that the document does not represent the final conclusions of the inquiry and remains incomplete, with more evidence and witness contributions expected before the final report is compiled and released, likely in 2026.
Since its hearings commenced in September, the commission has heard from dozens of witnesses over several weeks of testimony. To date, evidence has been presented by at least 37 witnesses across multiple phases of the inquiry, including both allegations and responses, with a substantial volume of transcripts and documentary material now part of the commission’s record.
The Madlanga Commission was established amid explosive claims initially made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, alleging political interference and collusion involving senior police, prosecutors, elements of the judiciary, organised crime syndicates, and government officials. These claims set the stage for an inquiry that has rapidly become emblematic of the broader struggle to uphold the rule of law and strengthen institutional integrity in South Africa.
Public debate has intensified around the confidentiality of the interim report, with civil society groups and analysts calling for greater transparency and urging patience until the commission completes its work. The Presidency has maintained that premature disclosure of unfinished findings could be counterproductive and risk undermining the inquiry’s process.
As the commission prepares to resume hearings in the new year, attention will shift to how the final report addresses these complex allegations, the breadth of evidence yet to be heard, and the potential legal and political implications for accountability and reform within the criminal justice system. Anyone with additional information relating to this story can contact us through emailpress@townpress.co.za.
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