The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry continues on Monday morning with the highly anticipated testimony of Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, the current head of Crime Intelligence in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
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The commission, chaired by retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has been probing allegations of political interference, corruption, and misuse of police resources.
Khumalo appeared after the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court cleared his schedule to ensure his presence.
Khumalo’s testimony comes at a critical moment. He was arrested earlier this year at OR Tambo International Airport alongside six other senior police officials.
The charges against them relate to alleged fraud, corruption, and the misuse of intelligence funds. His arrest has made him one of the most controversial figures in the inquiry.
So far, the Commission has already heard explosive claims. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) for political reasons.
Both National Commissioner Fannie Masemola and SAPS legal head Petronella van Rooyen testified that the Minister overstepped his powers by interfering in operational policing decisions.
Former President Thabo Mbeki, speaking at an ANC political school this weekend, said the inquiry was finally exposing “the rot in the system” and praised witnesses for their courage to speak out.
Against this backdrop, Khumalo is expected to give his perspective on the closure of the PKTT, its successes and failures, and respond to the corruption allegations hanging over his head.
Who is Dumisani Khumalo?
Dumisani Khumalo has served in the South African Police Service for more than two decades.
In 2022, he was appointed as the head of the Crime Intelligence unit, a critical structure tasked with preventing and disrupting organised crime.
According to a BBC Africa report, Khumalo’s arrest in June 2025 formed part of a wider crackdown on alleged corruption in SAPS Crime Intelligence. The arrests raised concerns about the integrity of the very unit meant to safeguard national security.
Opposition parties have been quick to react. The Democratic Alliance welcomed Khumalo’s arrest, calling it a necessary “step in rescuing an organisation on the brink of collapse.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters said the scandal was “not isolated, but the latest symptom of a hollowed-out policing system.”
Khumalo has denied wrongdoing. Through his legal representatives, he has indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to all charges.
His leadership has long been linked to the now-disbanded Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), which was established to investigate political violence, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.
Many expect that his testimony will provide critical insight into how the PKTT operated and why it was eventually shut down.