JOHANNESBURG, September 20 — South Africa’s African Christian Democratic Party has welcomed the progress report from the judicial inquiry into criminality and corruption in the country’s criminal justice system, as the commission chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga marks a year since its hearings began. The ACDP issued its statement on September 17, praising the commission — formally the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System — for what it called a commitment to uncovering the truth without fear or favour.
The party’s intervention is notably one of the few formal endorsements of the inquiry’s work to date. Madlanga sits alongside co-commissioners, evidence leaders, investigators and support staff.
According to the ACDP, the commission has heard testimony from 110 witnesses across 174 hearing days, supported by thousands of pages of documentary evidence.
What the party says the inquiry has exposed
The ACDP said the commission’s work has laid bare the threat that organised crime, corruption, political interference and criminal syndicates pose to the integrity of the criminal justice system and the rule of law. It described the inquiry as an important platform for exposing alleged criminal networks and institutional weaknesses that have eroded public confidence in law enforcement and the administration of justice.
Arrests, criminal charges, suspensions and resignations have already followed evidence presented during the inquiry, the party said, which it argued demonstrates the commission is having a tangible impact while still sitting. The ACDP paid tribute to witnesses and whistle-blowers who came forward, often at considerable personal risk, and specifically remembered Marius van der Merwe, identified as Witness D, extending condolences to his family and describing his death as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who stand against corruption and abuse of power.
The demands that follow
The party called on the South African Police Service, the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, along with all relevant authorities, to act swiftly on credible evidence emerging from the inquiry. It further urged President Ramaphosa to ensure the commission’s recommendations are implemented without delay, including measures aimed at strengthening law enforcement institutions, protecting whistle-blowers, improving oversight mechanisms and closing gaps that allow criminal networks to operate within state structures.
The ACDP warned that the country cannot afford for the findings to gather dust on a shelf, and said the public demands decisive action that restores confidence in the criminal justice system and demonstrates that no individual is above the law. It also expressed support for calls to establish a permanent, independent Anti-Corruption Commission as a Chapter Nine Institution, similar to bodies such as the Public Protector or the South African Human Rights Commission, citing the serious challenges exposed by the inquiry with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
The party said it remains committed to supporting lawful efforts to root out corruption, dismantle criminal networks and restore integrity to public institutions. The statement was released one day before a separate ACDP communication, dated September 18, addressed the kidnapping, brutalisation and killing of nine women in Ekurhuleni over the preceding two months, in which the possibility of a serial killer was being considered. For all the noise, the salient point is that the commission’s second year will test whether the political class converts testimony into consequence.
Watch the presidency’s response to the recommendations, and whether the prosecuting authorities act on the evidence already on the record.
