Madlanga Commission-linked investigations have led to the dismissal, suspension, and arrest of senior SAPS officials and associates, including Maj-Gen Richard Shibiri, Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, Maj-Gen Feroz Khan and Ebrahim Kadwa, Gen Fannie Masemola, Brig Abraham Nkhwashu, Brig Julius Mkhwanazi, Matipandile Sotheni and Brown Mogotsi.
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Although many critisised the Madlanga Commission as another costly commission that is not going to yield any positive results, it has instead revealed serious corruption in the SAPS, resulting in senior officers being suspended or fired, and others appearing before the courts
The commission's impact has reached the highest levels of law enforcement.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and his deputy, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, have been suspended, while several senior officers and other figures implicated during proceedings have been arrested, dismissed or appeared before court.
The commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa after explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July 2025. It is investigating claims of corruption, political interference and the protection of criminal networks within the justice system.
In January 2026, Ramaphosa announced the creation of a specialised SAPS task team after receiving the commission's first interim report. Three months later, arrests had already been made and investigations were continuing.
Although police maintain the arrests are not directly linked to evidence presented before the commission, authorities acknowledge that the inquiry prompted the formation of the task team and accelerated several investigations.
Shibiri dismissed after disciplinary process
Former SAPS organised crime head Major-General Richard Shibiri was dismissed on Friday, 5 June, following the conclusion of internal disciplinary proceedings.
Shibiri, who was suspended in February 2025, previously oversaw investigations involving transnational crime, narcotics, gangs, extortion, economic infrastructure and illegal mining.
In a statement, SAPS confirmed that the disciplinary proceedings were conducted in accordance with organisational prescripts and principles of procedural fairness.
"Major General Shibiri was found guilty of misconduct relating to conduct that brought the organisation into disrepute, including associating himself with a known criminal," SAPS said.
Major-General Richard Shibiri, head of SAPS Organised Crime Unit, has been sacked by the SAPS.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The dismissal follows damaging testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where allegations emerged of financial ties between Shibiri and controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
Evidence presented to the commission suggested Shibiri accepted a payment of between R70,000 and R80,000 from Matlala, who has repeatedly been linked to organised crime allegations.
During cross-examination, Shibiri offered differing explanations for the payment, describing it variously as a private loan to repair his son's vehicle or to fund construction work at his property.
However, financial records reportedly showed that Shibiri had sufficient funds in his bank account at the time. Investigators also pointed to spending on luxury brands, including Gucci and Louis Vuitton, during the same period.
The commission further heard allegations that Shibiri compromised active police investigations by providing Matlala with sensitive information. Witness testimony and phone records allegedly showed that he warned Matlala before a police raid on his residence in December 2024 and supplied information that could have aided efforts to counter ongoing investigations.
Additional evidence linked Shibiri to alleged interference in several high-profile cases, including the murder investigation of engineer Armand Swart and a R300 million drug bust in Aeroton. Witnesses claimed he attempted to influence investigations and pressured officers involved in the cases to withdraw opposition to bail applications.
The credibility of Shibiri's testimony also came under scrutiny, with commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and fellow commissioners repeatedly challenging inconsistencies in his evidence.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya was suspended in July 2025 after being implicated in allegations of obstructing investigations into politically motivated killings in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
General Shadrack Sibiya
Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, SAPS deputy national commissioner for crime detection, was placed on official leave in July 2025 after being implicated in allegations of obstructing investigations into politically motivated killings in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sibiya has denied the allegations, but the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria upheld his suspension to allow the inquiry to proceed.
Appearing before the Madlanga Commission, Sibiya testified that he was unaware then-police minister Senzo Mchunu would disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on December 31, 2024, although he said he was not surprised by the decision.
He told the commission that national police commissioner Fannie Masemola did not oppose the move because the issue had been discussed during consultative meetings held on November 1, 2024.
Sibiya has been accused of supporting the disbandment of the PKTT and has faced scrutiny over alleged links to criminal networks.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testified that 121 politically motivated killing case dockets were removed from the PKTT in March 2025 and kept at Sibiya's Pretoria office.
Suspended police officer Fannie Nkosi was denied bail earlier this week by the Pretoria High Court.
Image: Picture: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Sergeant Fannie Nkosi
Suspended SAPS organised crime unit police officer Sergeant Fannie Nkosi was suspended on March 28 and arrested on April 2 during a raid at his Pretoria North home.
Nkosi has been accused of acting as a middleman between Matlala and senior police officers. He also testified before the Madlanga Commission.
He faces multiple charges, including unlawful possession of explosives, three counts of failing to safeguard firearms, eight counts of failing to safeguard ammunition, defeating the administration of justice, failure to comply with firearm safe regulations and theft.
Nkosi was recently denied bail by the Pretoria High Court after appealing a Pretoria North Magistrate's Court ruling.
Judge Mokhine Mosopa found that the lower court had correctly applied the law.
State prosecutor Trott Mphahlele told the court that more than R50,000 in cash was found at Nkosi's property and that more than R300,000 allegedly flowed through his bank account despite his reported monthly salary of about R16,000.
The state argued that Nkosi failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the funds and warned that he could interfere with evidence, witnesses or police systems if released.
Durban businessman Tariq Downes, Crime Intelligence head Major-General Feroz Khan, and Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa face charges of illegally dealing in and possessing precious metals.
Image: NPA
General Khan and General Kadwa
Major-General Feroz Khan, SAPS deputy head of Crime Intelligence and head of counter-intelligence, and Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa were arrested on 10 May alongside Durban businessman Tariq Downes.
The trio face charges of illegally dealing in and possessing precious metals, as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The charges stem from an incident at OR Tambo International Airport on 5 May 2021, when Downes was allegedly found in possession of 75.9 grams of unwrought gold valued at approximately R62,836.
The three appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on 11 May and were each granted R20,000 bail.
The National Prosecuting Authority said Downes claimed he was acting as an undercover agent linked to senior SAPS officials. Investigators allegedly established that no authorised undercover operation involving precious metals existed at the time.
The state further alleges Khan and Kadwa instructed officers to release Downes despite the absence of supporting documentation. The matter was postponed to 14 July for further investigation.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola was suspension on April, on charges linked to the alleged irregular awarding of a R228 million Medicare 24 Tshwane District health tender.
Image: Siyabulela Duda / GCIS
Suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola
Ramaphosa placed National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola on precautionary suspension on April 23, 2026.
The suspension followed Masemola's court appearance on charges linked to the alleged irregular awarding of a R228 million Medicare 24 Tshwane District health tender.
Masemola and 17 co-accused, including Matlala, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on May 13.
The accused face charges including fraud, money laundering and contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
The matter was postponed to June 26 for further investigation and possible amendments to the charge sheet.
Masemola has maintained that he does not fully understand the basis of the case against him and believes there may be broader motives behind the prosecution.
Ramaphosa appointed Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane as acting national police commissioner.
Brown Mogotsi_Brown Mogotsi205 North West businessman and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi has been named at the Madlanga Commission for wrongdoing.
Image: Itumeleng English
Alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi
North West businessman and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi was arrested on May 15 shortly after completing his testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
He faces charges of perjury, defeating the ends of justice, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and discharging a firearm in a public place.
The charges arise from allegations that he staged an assassination attempt against himself in Vosloorus in November 2025.
Prosecutors allege witnesses saw Mogotsi stop his vehicle and fire shots at it before later claiming there had been an attempt on his life.
The state further alleges he attempted to bribe a police officer in connection with his bail application and supplied investigators with incorrect residential addresses.
On 4 June, the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court denied Mogotsi bail after finding that he failed to provide a verifiable residential address and posed a flight risk.
Magistrate Annelise Thlapi said the existence of three different addresses made it difficult for authorities to trace him.
The matter was postponed to 12 June to allow Mogotsi's legal team to obtain a copy of the docket. He remains in custody and intends appealing the ruling in the Johannesburg High Court.
Mogotsi has also been named in testimony before the Madlanga Commission, where witnesses linked him to Matlala and alleged he facilitated payments to political figures and shared sensitive police information.
Former Special Task Force member, Matipandile Sotheni. Former Police Special Task Force officer Matipandile Sotheni is accused of killing Marius van der Merwe, who was known as Witness D at the Madlanga Commission.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
Matipandile Sotheni
Former SAPS Special Task Force member Matipandile Sotheni, was arrested on March 14, 2026 in connection with the murder of Marius van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe was gunned down at his Brakpan home on December 5, 2025 in front of his wife and children.
Sotheni faces 16 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition-related offences and theft.
Van der Merwe had testified before the Madlanga Commission in November 2025, where he implicated suspended EMPD deputy chief Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi in the alleged murder of Emmanuel Mbhense.
Prosecutors allege Sotheni conspired with Wiandre Pretorius to kill Van der Merwe. Pretorius later died by suicide.
Sotheni was denied bail in the Brakpan Magistrate's Court on 1 June. Prosecutors argued that his release could endanger the public, intimidate witnesses and undermine the administration of justice.
The state alleges an AK-47 rifle and ammunition were found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.
The matter was postponed to July 30 for further investigation.
Suspended SAPS Sedibeng District Commissioner, Brigadier Abraham Nkhwashu, has been implicated in allegations of interference in the murder investigation of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
Brigadier Abraham Nkhwashu
Brigadier Mbangwa Abraham Nkhwashu, who is the deputy district commissioner of Sedibeng, has been implicated in allegations of interference in the murder investigation of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.
Swart was shot 23 times on April 17, 2024.
Evidence before the commission includes a recorded phone call in which Nkhwashu allegedly urged investigators to hand over the case docket.
He was also questioned about his relationship with alleged crime boss Katiso Molefe, who is accused of masterminding Swart's murder.
The commission heard that Nkhwashu made after-hours visits to Molefe at Groenpunt Correctional Centre using an unregistered vehicle and falsely claimed to be a relative.
Following the allegations, Nkhwashu was suspended.
Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department deputy chief Julius Mkhwanazi is facing serious allegations of corruption.
Image: Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
EMPD’s Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi
Brigadier Julius Mkhwanazi, suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, has emerged as a central figure in allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration and abuse of power within municipal law enforcement.
He was suspended on November 11 2025 after allegations presented before the commission linked him to the 2022 torture and murder of Emmanuel Mbhense and to alleged irregular dealings with Matlala.
Mkhwanazi was arrested on April 18 2026 and faces charges of fraud, corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
He is appearing alongside Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla, who was arrested on April 19 at OR Tambo International Airport.
The state alleges that in March 2019 the pair orchestrated a scheme to avoid court proceedings after Lerutla was arrested for speeding. Prosecutors claim they recruited and paid a third party to impersonate Lerutla in court and complete diversion documents on his behalf.
Authorities allege the pair shared approximately R400,000 for the scheme.
They were granted R30,000 bail each during their first appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on April 28.
The pair appeared again in court on May 13, and the case was postponed to June 9.
Meanwhile, political parties initially dismissed the commission as another talk shop.
However, it has yielded positive results in exposing alleged corruption and criminal infiltration at the highest levels of law enforcement.
The commission submitted its second interim report to Ramaphosa on May 29, 2026
It is scheduled to conclude its work and submit its final report to Ramaphosa on August 31.
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