Madlanga Commission: Witness Tries to Dirty Mkhwanazi – Commissioners Corner Her Hard!

November 17, 2025 4 min read

Madlanga Witness Mary Motsepe TRIES TO DIRTY MKHWANAZI – Gets DESTROYED By Commissioners!

In the latest twist at the Madlanga Commission hearings, Major General Mary Motsepe took the stand today, November 17, 2025, and seemed determined to paint KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as the guy who dodged responsibility for 121 critical dockets on political killings. But the commissioners weren’t buying it—they grilled her relentlessly, exposing gaps in her story that left everyone wondering about the real motives behind shuffling these files from KZN to national headquarters. If you want to see the fireworks for yourself, check out this live stream embed from the session:

Table of Contents

The Madlanga Commission Spotlight: Motsepe’s Testimony and the Docket Drama

The Madlanga Commission, tasked with probing criminality, political interference, and corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice system, has been unearthing some uncomfortable truths. Today’s session zeroed in on those 121 dockets from the now-disbanded Provincial KwaZulu-Natal Task Team (PKTT), which were mysteriously transferred to Gauteng for what Motsepe called a “simple audit.” She described how the files sat idle for months after the audit, and when plans to return them to KZN fell through, Mkhwanazi allegedly refused to take them back, saying he had “nothing to do” with them.Motsepe didn’t hold back in her account, emphasizing that as provincial commissioner, Mkhwanazi was the “main custodian” of these dockets. It felt like a direct jab, implying he was shirking his duties amid ongoing political violence in KZN. But here’s where it gets interesting: the commissioners pushed back hard, questioning why the dockets were ever moved if a basic count and verification could have been handled locally. Motsepe admitted the logic didn’t add up, even putting herself in Mkhwanazi’s shoes and saying she’d understand his refusal if the transfer seemed suspicious. Ouch—that’s like building a case against someone and then accidentally defending them.

Madlanga Commission Revelations: Contradictions in Motsepe’s Narrative

Diving deeper into the Madlanga Commission testimony, Motsepe outlined a timeline riddled with delays. The audit wrapped up by late March, but the dockets languished in a safe until May 19, when she was instructed to assemble a team for investigation. She insisted this wasn’t a new “task team” to replace the PKTT—just officers from units like stock theft and murder robbery stepping in. But the commissioners cornered her: How does a Johannesburg-based detective effectively probe a 2016 political murder in KZN without local context? Motsepe’s response? Detectives are trained to handle anything. Fair enough, but it rings hollow when she admits there was no documented plan for what happens post-PKTT disbandment—no clear chain for accountability to victims’ families or courts.This is where the sarcasm kicks in: It’s almost comical how SAPS treats these life-and-death files like a game of pass-the-parcel, but instead of music stopping on a prize, it halts justice for families who’ve waited years. Motsepe’s push to blame Mkhwanazi feels forced, especially when she couldn’t get a straight answer on his reasons for refusal. Eish, really? If you’re going to throw dirt, at least make sure it sticks. The unasked question here lingers: What was in those dockets that national wanted control over, and why the rush to investigate after the audit excuse fell flat?

Linking to Broader Madlanga Commission Issues: Mkhwanazi’s Side of the Story

To understand why Motsepe’s testimony feels like an attempt to dirty Mkhwanazi, let’s contrast it with his own explosive statements elsewhere. In parliamentary hearings earlier this year, Mkhwanazi didn’t mince words about corruption in SAPS, accusing criminals of using politicians—mostly from the ANC—to capture the system. He highlighted porous borders letting in drugs and illicit goods, with only one scanner for thousands of containers, fueling the crime wave that includes political killings. It’s relatable frustration: We’ve all dealt with government red tape, but when it lets syndicates thrive, it’s no joke.In one clip, Mkhwanazi warns of a “blue on blue” war within police ranks if interference isn’t stopped—cops turning on each other amid the chaos. This ties directly to the Madlanga Commission’s mandate, and Motsepe’s finger-pointing at him seems like deflection from national-level messes. For more on his side, check out this external resource from EWN’s coverage of the hearings (dofollow link: https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/11/17/live-day-33-of-madlanga-commission-of-inquiry), which details how the 121 dockets became a flashpoint.