South African domestic security and corruption inquiries

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has initiated several investigations into domestic instability and institutional misconduct. Initially, the focus centered on corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Madlanga Commission has identified significant failures, including a massive forensic backlog and a lack of lifestyle audits for senior officers, amid rising murder rates and extortion. Additionally, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was authorized to probe maladministration in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Police and specific health department tenders.

Following these developments, the scope of national security concerns expanded to include xenophobic violence against foreign nationals. President Ramaphosa informed the National Assembly that security agencies are investigating whether external forces have attempted to instigate this unrest to destabilize the country. While political opposition has criticized the government’s failure to protect migrants, the administration has pledged judicial action against perpetrators and is engaging with other African nations to address the crisis.