The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has resumed hearings in KwaZulu‑Natal, opening a new stream on allegations that criminal elements have infiltrated the provincial police and that task teams may have been used to carry out unlawful killings.
IPID evidence highlights alleged extrajudicial killings
On Wednesday the commission heard from Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) deputy director of investigations Len John, whose testimony focused on what IPID describes as a pattern of suspected extrajudicial killings by the KZN Police Cash‑in‑Transit (CIT) Task Team.
John told the commission that some deceased people shot by members of the CIT task team could not be linked to the CIT robberies they were accused of being involved in. He said this raised serious questions about whether proper investigative steps were followed before lethal force was used.
"In some cases, they cannot even give you the names of the deceased that they shot. So, with our investigation, we believe that the police are not doing proper investigation to arrest the suspects. We can see from the examples that we have that they go out to kill the person."
The testimony also challenged accounts that suspects fired first at police in every encounter. John said the claim that officers were fired upon does not appear to be universally accurate based on IPID's inquiries.
Concerns about vulnerability and criminal influence
Evidence presented to the commission suggested that some police officers in the province may be vulnerable to criminal influence and could be used to target and eliminate rivals. The inquiry is examining whether individuals within the service were co‑opted by criminal networks, and whether that compromised the integrity of policing operations.
The commission's new stream is explicitly focused on the alleged criminal infiltration of the police in KZN, signalling a shift from earlier lines of inquiry to probe institutional vulnerabilities and individual conduct.
Official reminders and responses
KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has repeatedly cautioned officers about the dangers they face while armed on duty, urging vigilance so that members do not put themselves in harm's way. The commission will consider such operational context alongside allegations of abuse.
| Issue raised | Evidence / Concern presented at commission |
|---|---|
| Alleged extrajudicial killings | IPID testimony that some deceased could not be linked to CIT robberies |
| Claim suspects fired first | IPID said this claim does not appear to be entirely true in some cases |
| Police vulnerability to criminals | Suggestions some officers were used by criminal elements to target rivals |
What the commission will consider next
The Madlanga Commission is expected to continue hearing testimony linked to this new investigative stream over coming sessions. The focus will remain on whether there was criminal infiltration of police structures in KZN and whether members of the service participated in, facilitated or failed to prevent unlawful killings.
- Examine patterns in use of force by the CIT Task Team
- Assess whether internal investigations were properly conducted
- Consider links between police conduct and organised criminal networks
The commission's work has already prompted intense public interest in KwaZulu‑Natal, where concerns about violent crime and policing practices intersect with broader questions about the rule of law and accountability. Testimony from oversight bodies such as IPID will be weighed alongside other evidence as the inquiry seeks to establish facts and make recommendations.
As hearings progress, communities and civil society organisations will be watching for findings that could lead to disciplinary action, criminal prosecutions or proposals for systemic reform within the provincial police service.
Further sessions are expected to shed more light on specific incidents and the individuals involved; the commission will determine whether referrals for prosecution or other remedial steps are required.
(Reporting from KwaZulu‑Natal.)
