The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is in a short recess from Thursday 3 September to Friday 11 September 2026. Public hearings resume on Monday 14 September. The last sitting before the break was Day 172 on 2 September.
The recess is needed so two commissioners can honor commitments made when the inquiry was still scheduled to finish by 31 August. The commission’s senior team continues working during the break. Public evidence is due to close on 2 October 2026, with the final report to President Cyril Ramaphosa due on 16 November 2026.
For the complete timeline and earlier coverage, see our main pillar page:
Day 172: Lebeya Closes His Evidence
Retired Hawks national head Lieutenant-General Seswantsho Godfrey Lebeya concluded testimony that ran across three days (27 August, 1 September and 2 September).Evidence leader Advocate Lee Segeels-Ncube put before him a photograph recovered from the phone of murder-accused businessman Katiso “KT” Molefe. Commission evidence is that the image shows five men Crime Intelligence has called the alleged “Big Five”:
- Katiso “KT” Molefe
- Steve Motsumi
- Ignatius Mothakathi
- the man known as “King Nyambose”
- the late taxi boss Jotham “Mswazi” Msibi
Dr Mark Shaw and Reform Recommendations
The same sitting heard Dr Mark Shaw, who pointed to international models (including Italy’s anti-mafia prosecution structure) and identified a gap in South African law on the unexplained wealth of public officials. That evidence is aimed at the reform chapter of the final report rather than at any single accused person.
Day 171 Snapshot
On 1 September, suspended Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan did not appear despite a standing subpoena. Only his legal team attended. The chairperson ruled on the postponement application. Khan has been readmitted to hospital on several occasions since June.
Brown Mogotsi, named in the Second Interim Report for possible disciplinary and criminal investigation, was in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on a separate bail matter, not before the commission that day.
Where the Record Stands at the Recess
Several major streams remain part-heard:
- Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala
- Lieutenant-Colonel Deena Govender (including the R1.7 million cash-deposit evidence)
- Madoda “Joe Ferrari” Sibanyoni (cross-examination scheduled for 21 September)
What Happens After 14 September
Hearings resume on Monday 14 September. The commission still has roughly four sitting weeks before public evidence closes on 2 October. The final report is due on 16 November.
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