Madlanga Commission Wraps Up Public Hearings
What the Hearings Are About
The Madlanga Commission is entering its final week of public hearings, set to run from Monday May 11 to Friday May 15 2026. After this week the commission will pause its public sessions to work on its second interim report.
Focus on Drug Seizures and Missing Narcotics
During these hearings the panel will keep looking into how South African law‑enforcement agencies handle drug seizures. Particular attention will be given to the handling, theft, and disappearance of narcotic substances in KwaZulu‑Natal and Gauteng.
Witness Testimony Continues
Jeremy Michaels, spokesperson for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, said the upcoming week will feature continued testimony from witnesses who already appeared before the commission. This includes both open‑court statements and evidence given behind closed doors.
In‑Camera Evidence of Witness H
One highlight will be the continuation of the in‑camera (private) evidence of Witness H, which was first heard on Friday May 8 2026. Michaels noted that this testimony is part of the ongoing effort to piece together what happened to seized drugs and where they may have gone missing.
Next Steps: Preparing the Second Interim Report
Michaels confirmed that after the hearings end on May 15, the commission will take a break from public sessions starting May 18 2026. During this break the team will focus on drafting the second interim report, which is scheduled to be delivered to President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 29 2026.
Conclusion
The Madlanga Commission’s final week of hearings aims to shed light on how drugs are seized, stored, and sometimes lost within South Africa’s justice system. With witness accounts—including the private testimony of Witness H—still being heard, the commission hopes to gather enough information to produce a meaningful interim report for the president by the end of May. After this, the public will await the commission’s findings and any recommendations that could help improve how narcotics are managed by law enforcement.
