Madlanga Commission welcomes President’s decision to establish task team

The Madlanga Commission has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to establish a task team to investigate individuals identified in its interim report.

The commission says it has uncovered prima facie evidence against several individuals, including current and former employees of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).

President Ramaphosa has instructed law enforcement agencies and other criminal justice institutions to act with urgency in implementing the commission’s recommendations, saying swift action will help restore public trust and strengthen the capacity of state institutions tasked with fighting crime and corruption.

The President also thanked the commission’s justices for their work in compiling the interim report, which was submitted in December.

Commission spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, said the commission will also act on several of its own recommendations.

“The commission’s delivery of the report on the 17th of December was in line with terms of reference of the commission. Specifically, it requires the commission to make actionable recommendations to the president and that is what we have done. We welcome the fact that a task team is being set up but the commission is going to action a number of the recommendations in terms of engaging relevant institutions,” Michaels said.

Among those implicated are suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Chief of Police, Julius Mkhwanazi, and former Ekurhuleni City Manager Dr. Imogen Mashazi.

SAPS officials named include KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Hawks head Major-General, Lesetja Senona, who testified before the commission this week.

Senona has denied breaching protocol after admitting to sharing personal information with alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The commission introduced a SAPS management circular issued in December 2024, warning that personal information of police officials was leaked on social media or shared directly with unauthorised individuals. The circular states that official SAPS information may not be shared with anyone who is not employed by the police service.

The commission also referred to WhatsApp exchanges between Senona and Matlala, which appear to show the sharing of documents containing confidential information relating to SAPS officials — including information linked to President Ramaphosa.

Despite this, Senona maintains that he acted within protocol, saying the information he shared was already in the public domain.

The commission further revealed WhatsApp messages suggesting that Matlala intended to purchase an apartment for Senona’s son, Thato.

This follows Senona’s earlier testimony that Matlala had planned to buy property through his son, who works in the construction sector.

However, the WhatsApp exchanges appear to contradict that version, suggesting Senona initiated the discussion by asking Matlala whether he was familiar with his son.

Senona maintained that the pair were exploring a joint property venture, which he says ultimately did not materialise.

Justice Madlanga questioned the plausibility of the arrangement, noting that a legitimate business deal would likely involve multiple properties rather than a single apartment.

Senona said he was simply pleased that his son was earning a lawful income.

Senona also denied any improper conduct relating to Matlala’s Medicare24 tender payments.

In WhatsApp messages shown to the commission, Senona appears to encourage Matlala to sue the SAPS over the disputed contract. The exchanges relate to payment and purchase order challenges Matlala allegedly faced while providing medical services to the SAPS.

In one message, Matlala asks Senona to help “deal with” a woman he claimed was causing problems with the contract. Senona responded with a thumbs-up emoji, which he said did not indicate agreement.

“Emojis are interpreted differently by different people. My understanding was simply that I had noted his message,” Senona said.

He added that he could not recall who Matlala was referring to, but assumed it may have been KwaZulu-Natal head of Human Resources, Lineo Nkhuoa.

Senona also told the commission that Matlala had asked him to accompany him to a meeting with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, where Matlala wanted to raise concerns about Medicare24 payment issues.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao