Madlanga Commission probes police corruption and missing cocaine evidence in South Africa

South Africa’s Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continues its investigation into alleged criminality, corruption and political interference within the country’s criminal justice system. Commissioners have scrutinised the handling of the Phala Phala farm scandal – a theft of foreign currency from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private farm – and have noted that no conclusive finding has linked senior police officers to a cover‑up. The commission’s mandate has been extended, with evidence‑gathering now due to finish by 2 October 2026 and the final report slated for 16 November 2026.

Recent testimony has focused on the credibility of police evidence surrounding a 27 kg cocaine seizure in June 2021. Hawks officers, including Warrant Officer Mbongeleni Felix Mpangase, were questioned about the disappearance of the drugs from a Hawks evidence store in Port Shepstone. Discrepancies in records and the involvement of Hawks Colonel Gavin Jacob were highlighted, while businessman Suliman Carrim’s medical absence and attempts to postpone his testimony added further complexity to the inquiry.