This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent decision to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the alleged infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and other parts of South Africa’s (SA) criminal justice system by organised crime groups.

Concerns over criminal networks operating within key security structures intensified earlier this month when KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, publicly acknowledged the presence of criminal syndicates within the police service. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has since been placed on a leave of absence pending further developments.

Commenting on the issue, the HSRC’s Dr Benjamin Roberts said the council’s research had tracked public sentiment around such commissions for several years. He referenced detailed studies conducted into the Zondo Commission, which investigated state capture and corruption under former President Jacob Zuma’s administration.

“Our research, which spanned three to four years, found that the public generally viewed the Zondo Commission’s proceedings in a positive light and broadly supported its recommendations,” said Roberts. “However, there is significant concern around the lack of implementation and whether these inquiries ultimately result in meaningful action.”

He added that many South Africans were becoming increasingly sceptical, questioning if the substantial financial costs of commissions were justified when few convictions followed their findings.

--ChannelAfrica--