Witness in South African justice-system corruption investigation killed

A key witness involved in a major investigation into corruption and criminal activity within South Africa's justice system was fatally shot on Friday evening, authorities reported. The killing occurred just weeks after the witness implicated a municipal police official.

The judicial inquiry, led by former Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to examine allegations from a senior police officer linking politicians to organized crime.

The identity of the deceased witness, referred to as Witness D, had been kept confidential. The commission started public hearings in mid-September, and Witness D had provided testimony behind closed doors last month.

According to acting Gauteng police commissioner Fred Kekana, the shooting happened around 8:30 pm when Witness D arrived at his home in a suburb east of Johannesburg. "He was about to enter his property when he was shot. His wife was unharmed," Kekana said. The attackers fired two rounds and fled the scene. Nearby CCTV footage reportedly captured the vehicle used in the escape. No arrests have been made.

In November, Witness D testified that Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), instructed him to dispose of a body of a suspect who had died in police custody in 2022. Fearing for his safety, Witness D, a former EMPD officer and private security business owner, followed the order and left the body in a dam.

The Madlanga commission was formed in July after a provincial police chief accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and other senior officials of obstructing investigations, including politically motivated killings. These allegations led President Ramaphosa to suspend Mchunu, who allegedly interfered with a police team investigating the murders to protect politically connected individuals. Both Mchunu and Mkhwanazi have denied any wrongdoing before the commission.

South Africa continues to face significant challenges from organized crime and corruption. Police statistics indicate that an average of 63 people were killed daily across the country between April and September.

Author: Benjamin Carter