President Cyril Ramaphosa has been urged to extend the duration of the Madlanga Commission following allegations made by suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen Daphney Semakaleng Manamela, regarding deep-seated criminality and political interference within SAPS.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Amid concerns surrounding criminal networks, President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing mounting pressure to extend the duration of the Madlanga Commission.
There are growing calls to not only prolong the investigation but to also broaden its scope to thoroughly investigate the emergence of new relationships within the criminal networks.
The calls for the extension follow allegations made by suspended Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen Daphney Semakaleng Manamela, who claimed that her seniors protect corrupt officers and accept bribes.
Ramaphosa has extended the work of the Commission to August but crime experts say the extent of criminality and political interference requires the inquiry to sit for years instead of months.
Retired Interpol Ambassador Andy Mashaile said the commission should be extended to thoroughly investigate deep-seated criminality and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system, saying Manamala’s allegations could be true.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said he would not comment on the matter, while the commission’s spokesperson, Jeremy Micheal, did not respond at the time of publication.
Manamela claimed that her suspension was a result of her crackdown on officers working with criminals and her resistance to political interference, rather than genuine misconduct, alleging that a R5 million bribe was involved.
She claimed there was political interference in cases involving illegal mining, kidnappings and political assassinations.
Manamela further alleged that a provincial task team investigating serious crimes was disbanded following her suspension, to compromise those cases.
Mashaile said he had been informed by a businessman that police in Mpumalanga helped criminals who wanted to take his mining business.
"They would go to his house, threaten to arrest him in their efforts to force him to pay these extortionists,” said Mashaile.
He said the businessman has opened cases, and nothing has happened.
“This man has about 1,000 employees, and these employees also experienced torture from these extortionists. They went to the police station to open a case and provided details of these extortionists, but they were told there is no such case,” he said, adding that this is part of corruption within law enforcement.
Mashaile added that organised crime networks exist, which includes senior police.
The Madlanga Commission, which started its work in September last year, submitted its first interim report to Ramaphosa on December 17, 2025, which contained recommendations for immediate criminal investigation and suspension of certain individuals.
Following initial findings, 12 senior police officers were arrested on 24 March 2026, in connection with a R360m police tender fraud linked to Medicare 24, the company linked to controversial businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.
The interim report identified prima facie evidence of wrongdoing against nine employees of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and five high-ranking SAPS officials, including KZN Hawks Head Major-General Lesetja Senona.
Testimony has detailed the operation of a sophisticated criminal syndicate known as the “Big Five” cartel, allegedly involved in drug trafficking, contract killings, and tender fraud. High-profile names such as businessman Matlala and “fixer” Suliman Carrim have been central to these revelations.
Security expert Willem Els said that, following the arrest of the 12 officials and the recent arrest of Julius Mkhwanazi, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Deputy Chief, the commission should be extended and institutionalised as a permanent body to tackle corruption in the country.
“We believe that there may be many more arrests based on the revelations made before the commission and the Parliament Ad Hoc Committee. This is only the start, and we need to look at the sustainable solution to this.
"Given what is happening in the SAPS, we should look at a different model and institutionalise the Madlanga Commission and make it permanent, which will address corruption in South Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South African Police Union (SAPU) told Newsroom Africa that it was deeply concerned about the potential impact of Manamela’s claims on public trust in the SAPS.
The union’s spokesperson, Lesiba Thobakgale, said there was a need for thorough, independent investigations, urging members of the public to allow due process to unfold.
Thobakgale added that unresolved allegations risk undermining both morale within the service and confidence in the country’s criminal justice system.
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za