Mbombela – ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to establish the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, saying it prevented potential national chaos.
Mkhwanazi’s explosive July 6 briefing accused politicians and senior police officials of colluding with criminal networks, prompting Ramaphosa to act by setting up both the commission and a parliamentary ad hoc committee to probe the claims.
Speaking at the ANC’s Mpumalanga provincial general council in Mbombela, Mbalula warned that if Ramaphosa had ignored the allegations, South Africa could have faced unrest similar to the July 2021 riots, which left over 300 people dead.
“On the 6th of July, we wake up, there’s a policeman addressing the nation and says here are the allegations.
“There are many forces in society that wanted to elevate that thing to a form of revolt against the democratic state, like it happened during the Jacob Zuma unrest,” Mbalula said.
“You remember? They said they don’t know why Zuma is arrested and then they brought the country down,” the ANC secretary-general told delegates.
Fikile Mbalula 🗣
“If President Cyril Ramaphosa had ignored General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations, the unrest would have been even worse than when Jacob Zuma was justifiably arrested.” pic.twitter.com/p7XkU8exIk
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) October 18, 2025
“If the president of the country, according to the ANC, were to treat that matter anyhow as a by-the-way issue, this country was going to turn into flames.”
He said the ANC fully supports the commission despite public skepticism over the effectiveness of past inquiries, arguing that Mkhwanazi’s claims — which suggested state capture by “criminal cartels and tsotsis” — posed a grave threat to the rule of law.
Mbalula emphasised that the commission’s purpose is to uncover the truth, not to prejudge anyone, including suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
He urged patience while investigations unfold, insisting that “evidence must lead” and that those found guilty of wrongdoing should face legal consequences.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/@Foza_Queen
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
