Build One South Africa (BOSA) notes the release of the Madlanga Commission’s interim report into criminality, corruption and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
While the report outlines prima facie evidence of serious wrongdoing by a number of officials across SAPS and the Ekurhuleni Metro, it is hard to ignore that not a single politician has been named or held directly accountable at this stage.
The President and his government are asking South Africans to believe that a criminal justice system allegedly infiltrated by syndicates, paralysed by corruption, and compromised at multiple levels is the result of only administrative or operational failure. That is not credible.
What is clear is that this is not an instance of a few bad actors. It is evidence of a state hollowed out from within, where politically connected and politically protected individuals have been allowed to weaken institutions that are meant to protect citizens from crime.
The Commission’s own work confirms criminal syndicates were allegedly able to infiltrate parts of law enforcement, serious allegations of corruption, fraud, and even violent crime are linked to officials in key institutions, and urgent criminal investigations and suspensions are now required
This level of institutional decay does not happen in a political vacuum. It happens when leadership fails and when those in power either cannot or will not act.
At a time when South Africa experiences some of the highest violent crime rates in the world, citizens cannot afford drift or political sensitivity in the leadership of policing.
BOSA therefore reiterates its call for the immediate removal of Senzo Mchunu and the appointment of a permanent Police Minister who is demonstrably tough on crime, independent of political factionalism, and singularly focused on restoring integrity to the justice system.
Moreover, we will push for this report to be tabled in Parliament for urgent interrogation and debate. The allegations that led to the commission were made public, therefore the findings of the commission in this interim report must be made public.
South Africa needs professional, depoliticised policing, merit-based leadership in law enforcement, independent investigations free from political pressure, and real consequences for those who hollowed out the system.
Public trust in the criminal justice system has been severely damaged. Restoring that trust will not come from task teams and interim processes alone. It will require visible political accountability and decisive leadership change.
The Madlanga Commission has exposed the depth of the crisis. Government must now show whether it has the will to confront the political roots of that crisis head on.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551