Madlanga Commission reserves judgment on private hearing for intelligence chief
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry heard arguments on Wednesday on a request to take the testimony of Acting NICOC Coordinator Ntandazo Sifolo in camera. Media groups oppose the request, and the commission reserved its judgment.
Chief Evidence Leader Matthew Chaskalson said Sifolo's evidence relies largely on intelligence documents that are only partly declassified. He said the order lets commissioners and evidence leaders see the documents, but not share them publicly. Chaskalson said the documents were "expressly not been declassified for the purposes of public dissemination."
Chaskalson also said that if the evidence is not heard in camera, the order as it stands stops the commission from hearing it.
Advocate Ben Winks appeared for amaBhungane, Daily Maverick and News24. He argued that giving the press access only after the hearing is not a workable remedy. He said delayed access would weaken public scrutiny of evidence and public confidence in the commission.
Lawyers for the media also said Sifolo should explain why he cannot share certain information. The commission also said it will engage with socialite Serge Cabonge and obtain a statement from him about claims in a voice recording played at the bail hearing of Shadrack Sibiya.
Key facts
- Who
- Ntandazo Sifolo (National Intelligence Coordinating Committee Acting Coordinator); Serge Cabonge (socialite); Shadrack Sibiya (former Deputy National Police Commissioner); Madlanga Commission of Inquiry (commission hearing the application)
- What
- Media organisations opposed the Madlanga Commission evidence leaders' application to hear Sifolo's evidence in camera. Their counsel argued that delayed access would undermine open justice principles. Judgment was reserved.
- When
- 21 October 2026
- Where
- Pretoria, Randburg, South Africa
- Status
- Reported