As South Africa gears up for one of its most significant inquiries into corruption and political interference in the justice system, shocking reports of a security lapse have raised fresh concerns.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System — better known as the Madlanga Commission — is set to begin, but the spotlight has already shifted to whether the hearings themselves are truly safe.
Mkhwanazi to Lead Testimony
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is expected to take the stand as the very first witness.
His testimony will open proceedings on Wednesday, 17 September, at the Bridgitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.
With the weight of the commission’s mandate and the seriousness of the allegations it will examine, all eyes are on both the evidence presented and the environment in which it unfolds.
Commission Responds to Access Breach
Reports surfaced that members of the public and even the media managed to slip into the building without proper checks.
Speaking with Newzroom Afrika anchor Iman Rappetti, commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels admitted the breach was “unacceptable.”
He stressed that a full explanation would be demanded, adding:
“The building itself, the Justice College, has been locked down. It was swept this morning by the security services.
But the issues with access control – we certainly are going to be seeking answers as to what happened.”
Warnings From Security Experts
Concerns didn’t end there. Former SAPS Anti-Gang Unit head Jeremy Veary also weighed in, confirming that metal detectors were malfunctioning and no formal accreditation process had been enforced earlier in the day.
He warned that unless these issues were fixed immediately, the credibility and safety of the hearings could be undermined.
Court Security Already Under Fire
The lapse comes at a time when South Africa’s court security systems are already facing harsh criticism.
In recent months, several violent incidents have rocked court precincts. Just last week, a man was shot dead outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town.
Earlier in April, another individual was gunned down in front of horrified witnesses inside the Church Road court, also in Cape Town.
Earlier in the year, the Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee carried out an inspection at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.
Committee chairperson Xola Nqola expressed alarm when he found that the court’s filing facilities had no fire extinguishers or smoke detectors — an obvious and dangerous safety gap.
A Justice System Under Pressure
For many South Africans, these incidents add to growing doubts about whether the justice system can adequately protect those who enter its spaces — from everyday citizens to high-profile witnesses.
With the Madlanga Commission expected to expose deep-rooted corruption and political interference, the call for security to match the gravity of the task has never been louder.