South African Police Service (SAPS) members whose names have been mentioned at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee have received notices of investigation into their alleged misconduct, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said.
“To date, members whose names were mentioned at both committees have been identified. We cannot, at this stage, mention names, as the cases are still under investigation. All affected members have received notices of investigation into their alleged misconduct. The hearings are at an advanced stage, and two senior officers have been suspended,” the Commissioner said at a media briefing in Pretoria.
At Friday’s briefing, Masemola said another four have already been served with notices of intended suspension.
This as the Commissioner in November 2025, established and appointed a task team of skilled senior managers who were mandated to monitor the evidence led at the commission and the Ad Hoc Committee, and to identify the names of all SAPS employees who were implicated to ensure that disciplinary investigations are initiated in cases where there is credible information that they may have committed misconduct.
The Commissioner said the police have received the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommendation of the April 2022 murder of Emmanuel Mbhense.
“It’s important to mention that the SAPS had already initiated its own internal departmental and criminal investigations into the conduct of the two police officers, who were allegedly on the scene of the crime when the deceased was allegedly murdered and dumped into a dam.”
He added that following a directive from President Ramaphosa, police have established a team that will investigate those implicated in the Madlanga Commission.
“It's important to note that some of these cases were already investigated by the Political Killings Task Team, organised crime, serious and violent crimes, and other teams. This team comprises experienced, skilled, and specialised detectives, forensic experts, crime intelligence analysts, and operatives, as well as combat members. The team will also include a dedicated advocate from the NPA [ National Prosecuting Authority ] for [the purpose of prosecutorial guided investigations.”
This team’s mandate includes the fast tracking of the finalisation of all cases that have been under investigation and referred from the commission, as well as the nine members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD).
“We have full faith and confidence in the team that is made up of experienced and skilled specialists. Together with the NPA led by the NATJOINTS [National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure], we continue to assess and review safety and security aspects of those who have a role at the Commission,” said the Commissioner.
In addition, Masemola has also received a briefing from the Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng on how far investigations are into arresting those responsible for the murder of Witness D.
“I am confident that the team is on the right track.”
In December 2025, the National Police Commissioner said the police had identified three persons of interest whom they believed could assist in solving the murder case of Marius Van Der Merwe. Known as “Witness D”, Van Der Merwe appeared before the Madlanga Commission sitting in Pretoria.
In his remarks, the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Andy Mothibi, said the NPA appreciates the importance of fast-tracking investigations and prosecutions following the interim report submitted by the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
President Ramaphosa received the interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System on 17 December 2025.
The Madlanga Commission was established by President Ramaphosa in July 2025 and is chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The Commission was appointed to investigate allegations of criminal conduct, political interference, and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
Mothibi said the NPA will allocate experienced senior prosecutors to be part of the task team to facilitate prosecutor-guided investigations (PGI). PGI provides real-time guidance to investigators and a real-time assessment of evidence gathered to ultimately enable speedy prosecutorial decisions.
“We are awake to the urgency of these investigations,” said Mothibi, who took up his new position this week.
The PGI is designed to ensure a swift and effective investigation process that sees prosecutors and investigators working closely in managing investigations which culminate in prosecution. In addition, the Asset Forfeiture Unit will also be part of the team.
At the briefing on Friday, police also gave an update on their festive season operations.
-SAnews.gov.za
