Madlanga Commission Day 3: Mkhwanazi Highlights RBM Murder Failures and Political meddling

Mkhwanazi’s Testimony on RBM Murders

During the third sitting of the Madlanga Commission, Lieutenant‑General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the sole witness, turned the spotlight on a series of violent deaths at Richard's Bay Minerals (RBM). He recounted that in 2021 he attended a high‑level briefing with the KZN premier and the Minister of Minerals and Energy, where mining executives voiced alarm over a spate of murders that had never been solved.

"Executives were being targeted in the plant, and the police were seen as ineffective," Mkhwanazi said, echoing the frustration of the business community. He explained that the meeting convinced him to act as the provincial police head, citing his constitutional duty to protect citizens and enforce the law. Within days, a specialised team of detectives was dispatched to Richard's Bay to re‑open the cold cases and pursue leads that had previously stalled.

The commissioner also disclosed that several senior RBM officials had been killed under suspicious circumstances, hinting at possible links to organised crime groups operating in the region. He warned that without a decisive police response, the mining sector’s stability—and the broader provincial economy—could be jeopardised.

Broader Allegations of Political Interference

Beyond the mining saga, Mkhwanazi used the platform to repeat the explosive claims that sparked the commission’s creation. He accused criminal syndicates of penetrating the police, judiciary, parliamentary bodies and even intelligence agencies, effectively weaponising the state against dissent.

One focal point of his testimony involved the suspended Minister of Health, Senzo Mchunu, and his alleged associate, businessman Brown Mogotsi. While details remain sparse, Mkhwanazi suggested that the duo’s network may have influenced the dismissal of the KZN Political Killings Task Team earlier in the year, a unit that once investigated politically motivated murders.

The Madlanga Commission itself was birthed by President Cyril Ramaphosa after Mkhwanazi’s July 6, 2025, whistle‑blowing letter. The inquiry, formally titled the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, operates under the guidance of acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

Live broadcasts have kept the nation tuned in, and media outlets across the spectrum have followed the hearings closely. So far, Mkhwanazi’s detailed accounts have painted a picture of systemic rot, from unsolved murders at a major mining operation to alleged collusion between high‑ranking officials and criminal elements. The commission continues to sift through his statements, promising further revelations in the days ahead. Madlanga Commission remains the focal point of South Africa’s struggle to reclaim the integrity of its justice institutions.

Author: Themba Sweet

I am a news journalist with a passion for writing about daily news in Africa. With over 20 years of experience in the field, I strive to deliver accurate and insightful stories. My work aims to inform and educate the public on the continent’s current affairs and developments.

17 Comments

Orlaith Ryan said:

September 23, 2025 AT 11:03

This is exactly why we need independent oversight.
No more silence.
Dan Ripma said:

September 23, 2025 AT 15:22

What we're witnessing isn't merely corruption-it's the slow unraveling of a social contract. When the state becomes an instrument of fear rather than justice, we don't just lose institutions; we lose the moral architecture of civilization itself. The RBM murders are symptoms, not causes. The disease is systemic dehumanization masked as governance.
amrin shaikh said:

September 25, 2025 AT 11:20

Let’s be real-this isn’t surprising. South Africa’s entire criminal justice system has been a puppet show run by syndicates with government IDs. Mkhwanazi’s just the first guy with the guts to say it out loud. Meanwhile, the rest of us are still debating whether the police wear uniforms or not. Pathetic. The fact that you need a commission to confirm what any local cop knows is the real scandal.
jai utkarsh said:

September 26, 2025 AT 14:57

One cannot help but observe the tragic irony of institutional decay being exposed precisely by those who were once complicit in its maintenance. Mkhwanazi’s testimony is less a revelation and more a confession-of a system that has, for decades, allowed the erosion of rule of law under the banner of political expediency. The real tragedy? We’ve been conditioned to expect this. We’ve normalized the grotesque as the mundane. And now, when someone dares to name it, we call it ‘drama’.
Chandan Gond said:

September 27, 2025 AT 02:54

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Not just for justice-but for courage. Mkhwanazi didn’t wait for permission to do what’s right. He acted. And if we’re smart, we’ll stop waiting for politicians to fix this and start holding each other accountable. The change starts with us. Not the next election. Not the next commission. Right now.
Hailey Parker said:

September 29, 2025 AT 02:03

So let me get this straight: a mining company’s security team is getting bumped off, the police are either asleep or in cahoots, and the only person brave enough to act is a general who’s basically saying, ‘I’m not waiting for permission to do my job.’
Meanwhile, the minister of health is busy being suspended while his buddy runs shadow operations.
Yep. We’re definitely living in the plot of a Netflix thriller. And it’s not even scripted.
John Bartow said:

September 30, 2025 AT 16:28

There’s a deep African tradition of oral testimony as resistance-think of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but this time, the ghosts aren’t just from apartheid. They’re from boardrooms, from police stations, from the backseats of luxury sedans driven by men who think they’re untouchable. Mkhwanazi isn’t just giving testimony-he’s performing ancestral duty. The land remembers. The people remember. And now, finally, someone with a badge is speaking for them.
Mark L said:

October 2, 2025 AT 07:10

this is wild 😳 i had no idea it was this bad..
hope they actually follow through this time 🤞🙏
Jacquelyn Barbero said:

October 4, 2025 AT 00:04

I’ve worked in justice reform for over a decade. What’s happening here isn’t unique-it’s just more visible. What’s rare is the clarity and courage in Mkhwanazi’s testimony. He didn’t sugarcoat. He didn’t deflect. He named names and linked systems. That’s the kind of leadership we need more of-not just in SA, but everywhere. This is a blueprint for accountability.
toby tinsley said:

October 4, 2025 AT 02:14

It’s important to acknowledge that speaking out like this comes at immense personal cost. Mkhwanazi may never walk freely again in the same society he served. We owe him not just attention, but sustained pressure. Let’s not let this be a media spectacle that fades after a week. The commission must be resourced, protected, and empowered-otherwise, it’s just theater.
Chris Richardson said:

October 5, 2025 AT 07:52

Honestly? I’m just glad someone’s finally talking. I’ve heard rumors about RBM for years-people disappearing, cases going cold, cops turning a blind eye. It’s not conspiracy stuff. It’s just how things work when power isn’t checked. Mkhwanazi’s not a hero-he’s just doing his job. And that’s what’s so scary. He shouldn’t have to be the one to step up.
Arvind Pal said:

October 7, 2025 AT 03:41

the system’s broken but someone finally moved
that’s more than most
Mark Archuleta said:

October 8, 2025 AT 12:28

The structural vulnerabilities here align with what criminologists call ‘institutional capture’-where formal organizations are subverted by informal networks with shared interests. The RBM murders are a microcosm: extractive industries, weak oversight, and compromised law enforcement form a perfect feedback loop. What’s needed isn’t just investigations-it’s institutional redesign. Decentralized oversight, independent forensic units, whistleblower protections with teeth.
Pete Thompson said:

October 9, 2025 AT 12:22

Oh please. Mkhwanazi is just another disgruntled bureaucrat trying to save his legacy. You think the police are clean? The military? The courts? Everyone’s dirty. This whole commission is a distraction. The real problem is democracy itself-too many voices, too little order. What we need is a strong hand. Not more inquiries. More control.
Richard Berry said:

October 10, 2025 AT 23:02

i hope this leads to real change
not just another report that gets filed and forgotten
people are dying out here
Sandy Everett said:

October 12, 2025 AT 08:06

We can’t let outrage fade into numbness. Every time we scroll past this and say ‘someone else will handle it,’ we become part of the problem. Mkhwanazi didn’t wait for a crowd. He acted alone. Let’s honor that by staying engaged-not just today, but for the next 100 days. Call your reps. Share the testimony. Demand transparency.
Lawrence Abiamuwe said:

October 12, 2025 AT 12:33

The integrity of institutions is not maintained by silence, but by the quiet courage of individuals who refuse to look away. Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi’s testimony is not merely a report-it is an act of moral reclamation. May his words echo beyond the courtroom and into the halls of power, reminding us that accountability is not a privilege, but the foundation of any just society.