By 
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has cautioned that the newly established judicial commission of inquiry to look into the allegations made by the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi should not be a Zondo commission 2.0.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressing the nation on 13 July 2025, announced the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to be headed by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, he will be assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC.
“The Commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.
Among the allegations that the Commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistle-blowers or officials resisting criminal influence,” said Ramaphosa.
The Leader of the DA John Steenhuisen says his party has noted the announcement; however, he expressed some doubt regarding the commission. He said commissions are only as good as their consequences and that this commission should not be another Zondo-style dead-end.
Steenhuisen says the allegations made by Mkhwanazi strike at the heart of South Africa’s criminal justice system, implicating senior law enforcement, prosecutorial, intelligence, and even executive officials in organised crime and systemic corruption.
“While we welcome the announcement of a leave of absence for the Minister of Police as a necessary step, it comes after relentless DA pressure and a national outcry. These allegations provided the President with an opportunity to show bold and firm leadership. Instead, he has once again outsourced executive responsibility to a commission, and South Africans have grown cynical of talk shops, task teams and commissions which they see as buying time and avoiding accountability.
The DA will not accept a years-long process that gathered damning evidence only to deliver zero accountability. The country cannot afford another elaborate filing cabinet of findings that gather dust while the politically connected escape justice. The DA will hold the president to account on every finding and recommendation made by this committee, and we will fight in cabinet and parliament for swift and visible action. Parliament must not be side-lined and the work of parliament to hold the executive to account must continue unabated and undeterred,” said John Steenhuisen.
The DA Leader says while they welcome the replacement of Minister Mchunu, they also reject the attempt to create the illusion of reform while ANC ministers accused of corruption remain firmly in cabinet at the behest of presidential prerogative. He says the presence of Ministers Nkabane and Simelane, exposes the on-going selective and performative accountability that South Africans grow tired of.
“The President has taken a step, but not the leap that this moment demands. If he truly wants to root out criminal syndicates from the state, he must start with his own Cabinet. South Africans deserve action, not more commissions,” he concluded.
