The shocking revelations emerging from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry have exposed deep-seated corruption, rogue activities, and criminal infiltration within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), highlighting a profound crisis in South Africa’s fourth-largest municipality.
The commission, initially sparked by explosive allegations from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in his July 6 briefing, has uncovered widespread malfeasance in the metro police departments of Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, and Johannesburg. In Ekurhuleni, the allegations involve tender fraud, abuse of processes, murder, hijackings, and a near-total collapse of service delivery.
Witness D, identified as Marius Van Der Merwe, provided chilling testimony about the April 2022 dumping of a man named Emanuel in the Duduza River. The lead investigator from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) probing the killing of Nomsa Masuku also reported receiving threats, potentially linked to a rogue criminal syndicate operating within the EMPD.
The investigator described a terrifying incident in December 2024, when her vehicle was shot at while driving on the N17 in the Springs area with her family and children. “I’m not saying it’s them, but those are the threats that were coming towards us,” she stated.
Questions persist about the role—or lack thereof—of the Ekurhuleni Council in addressing the rot. Suspended head of HR Linda Gxasheka testified last week that the issues uncovered so far represent only a small part of a much larger problem. “With due respect, your timing is got limited scope and we’ve got what we’re dealing with here is the small part of the tip of the iceberg,” she said. She expressed hope that a new team established by the president would examine additional matters.
In response to the commission’s allegations, authorities initiated a vetting process for approximately 3,500 EMPD officers starting in mid-February this year. However, this cleanup effort faced resistance from the municipal workers’ union SAMWU. A union spokesperson indicated that the matter would be subjected to union structures, including constituent, departmental, and general meetings, with legal assistance to determine the union’s position.
A special investigations task team, appointed by the acting police minister, has begun probing at least 14 officials from both the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ekurhuleni.
These developments underscore a systemic breakdown in accountability and governance within the Ekurhuleni metro, with witnesses and officials warning that the exposed corruption is merely the visible portion of a far more extensive crisis threatening public safety and service delivery.