Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has assured the public that the final report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will be made public.
This comes after revelations that the Commission’s interim report will be submitted to the President on Wednesday and will not be released publicly.
“The final report will be made available to the public. The Commission will advise the President on areas that are of national security sensitivity and how those areas will need to be managed. The report is incomplete and the President needs time to study it as he has not had the luxury of time to follow the proceedings of the Commission everyday,” Magwenya said on Monday in Pretoria.
President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Commission after South African Police Service (SAPS) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, held a media briefing at which he made serious allegations that the Minister of Police and other individuals had colluded to interfere with police investigations.
The Commission is investigating allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.
“Some of the witnesses that have come before the Commission are going to be called back again to continue with their evidence. Some had evidence located in certain specific areas but not as broad as it was meant to be. So those witnesses are still going to be given a chance to return to the Commission and give that evidence.
“It will not be helpful for the witnesses, the Commission itself, and all of us to start getting ourselves into knots over something that has not been completed. The President has undertaken to release the final report publicly when the Commission has concluded its work, ” he said.
Magwenya was speaking during a media briefing to update journalists on the President’s programme and other topical issues of public interest.
Protection of whistle-blowers
Earlier this month, Marius van der Merwe, a Brakpan-based security industry member and former Ekhurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department official, who recently testified before the Madlanga Commission was shot multiple times in full view of his family outside their Brakpan home.
According to Magwenya, there has been extensive engagements in government on protecting witnesses before the commission or those who are to appear at the commission.
“The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development in this regard has also undertaken to engage the leadership of the media to look at ways in which witnesses can be protected and not be unreasonably and unfairly exposed to those who may seek to harm them.
“Then there's another aspect to this, which is the protection of whistleblowers. We have a process that's already underway with the Protected Disclosure Bill that is currently in consultation at a technical level in government before it proceeds to cabinet,” he said.
Government is reviewing the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA) and related laws to create a Comprehensive Whistleblower Protection Framework.
This reform process aims to broaden the definition of “whistleblower” to include contractors, consultants, and members of the public; establish clear procedures for confidential disclosures; strengthen remedies for occupational detriment and clarify the obligations of employers to act on disclosures.
On whether the President will consider extending the timeframe of the work of the Commission, considering that testimonies can be a lengthy process that can last up to two or three days, Magwenya said the Presidency is open to a discussion on the matter.
“The government and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development have been paying particular attention on the cost aspects of this exercise. The President will then have to be advised on both the merits for an extension as well as what will be the cost implications,” Magwenya said. - SAnews.gov.za
