Ramaphosa extends Madlanga Commission deadline to Nov 16

President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted a significant extension to a major judicial inquiry, pushing its final deadline to mid-November. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is investigating criminality, political interference, and corruption within South Africa's criminal justice system, will now submit its final report on Monday, November 16, 2026. The announcement was made by the Presidency on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

The extension moves the reporting deadline from the original date of August 31, 2026. It also establishes a new deadline of Friday, October 2, 2026, for the commission to conclude hearing evidence. According to a statement from presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the additional time is necessary to allow the inquiry to fully investigate all matters within its mandate. He stated that without the extension, the commission would have to leave large parts of its work unfinished.

The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established by President Ramaphosa in July 2025. Its public hearings have focused on allegations involving the South African Police Service, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation...