- The Commission has heard 110 witnesses over 174 hearing days in its first year.
- Its evidentiary record has grown to 131,634 pages, including transcripts and documentary material.
- More than 6,400 calls and emails have been received from members of the public.
A year of hearings has produced a judicial record unlike any other in recent South African history, with the Madlanga Commission compiling 131,634 pages of evidence while hearing testimony from 110 witnesses over 174 sitting days.
The figures, released as the Commission marked its first anniversary on 17 September 2026, offer the clearest picture yet of the scale of the inquiry into alleged criminality, political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system.
A landmark inquiry in numbers
Since opening hearings on 17 September 2025, the commission has generated 26,352 pages of oral testimony and collected another 105,282 pages of documentary evidence contained in 750 bundles.
Its witness list spans the breadth of the criminal justice system, including 36 SAPS officers, 25 Hawks officers, metropolitan police officials, NPA and IPID representatives, Members of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, private individuals and institutional reform experts.
Public participation remains high
The inquiry has also attracted significant public engagement. Its hotline received 1,894 telephone calls, while 4,548 emails were submitted by members of the public during its first year.
Although many submissions fell outside the commission’s mandate, the volume reflects the widespread public interest in allegations being investigated.
Hearings continue into a second year
Witness protection has remained central to proceedings, with 22 in-camera applications considered and 19 granted. Eight hearings have been conducted entirely behind closed doors, while the Commission has also defended its processes in several High Court challenges.
As it enters its second year, the commission’s statistics reveal not only the breadth of its investigation, but the enormous task that still lies ahead.
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