One year after Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations shook South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has given the Madlanga Commission more time to finish its work.
The commission will now submit its final report on 16 November 2026 instead of 31 August 2026.
The Presidency announced the extension on Thursday. It said commissioners need more time to hear all the evidence before completing their report.
Why Ramaphosa extended the Madlanga Commission
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the extension sets a new evidence deadline of 2 October 2026.
Commissioners must submit their final report by 16 November 2026.
“The extension granted by the President sets an evidence deadline of Friday, 2 October 2026, and a reporting deadline of Monday, 16 November 2026, to enable the Commission to close off topics it has opened up in the course of hearings to date,” Magwenya said.
He said the extension will allow the commission to hear evidence on every matter in its terms of reference.
“Without an extension, the Commission will have to leave large parts of its work unfinished.”
Magwenya added that Ramaphosa “once again expresses his deepest appreciation for the work conducted by the Commission as well as for the manner in which law enforcement agencies are following up testimony emerging from Commission hearings.”
The inquiry one year later
Ramaphosa established the Madlanga Commission in July 2025 after Mkhwanazi accused senior police officials of interfering in investigations. He also alleged organised crime had infiltrated parts of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the criminal justice system. Retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga chairs the inquiry.
Over the past year, commissioners have heard evidence from senior police officials, intelligence officers, politicians and protected witnesses.
They have also examined the alleged dismantling of the Political Killings Task Team and the transfer of 121 investigation dockets. The inquiry has faced major setbacks. Gunmen killed witness Marius van der Merwe after he testified before the commission in December 2025. In June this year, attackers shot Major-General Feroz Khan before he was due to give evidence.
