Madlanga Commission closes Witness G testimony to public

The public has been shut out of one of the most anticipated testimonies at the Madlanga Commission after proceedings involving a key crime intelligence witness were moved entirely behind closed doors. Commission chairperson, retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga withdrew an earlier ruling that would have allowed limited public access to the testimony of “Witness G” on Monday ordering instead that the evidence be heard fully in camera. The decision followed technical glitches and audio problems that delayed proceedings earlier in the day, with Madlanga saying it had become impractical to continue under the original arrangement.

“I have to recall that order and I do so purely because it has become impractical for us to proceed along those lines. For those reasons, we will now proceed fully in camera. Members of the public, including the media, will not have access to the testimony of the witness,” he said.

The withdrawn ruling, issued on April 24, had allowed Witness G to testify remotely and off-screen, with an audio feed available to the public while sensitive portions would be heard in camera. Witness G is understood to be a crime intelligence officer who handles informants, placing the witness at the centre of highly sensitive operational information. The testimony was expected to shed light on claims made before the Commission by controversial figure Brown Mogotsi, who alleged that he had been appointed by a handler to investigate issues linked to businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala and the controversial R360 million police tender.

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Witness G’s evidence was to either corroborate or contradict those claims, including whether any such instruction was formally issued within crime intelligence structures. However, with the proceedings now entirely closed, the public will not hear that evidence firsthand.

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