The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has threatened to summon doctors who issue vague medical certificates after repeated delays caused by witnesses submitting last-minute notes to postpone their testimony. The commission, investigating allegations of police capture and corruption, criticised certificates submitted by key figures including IDAC head Andrea Johnson and alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi in recent months for lacking sufficient details to justify deferrals.

Pattern Of Last-Minute Medical Certificates Disrupts Hearings

Justice Madlanga and the commission have expressed increasing frustration over what they describe as a pattern of witnesses providing vague or inadequate medical notes shortly before scheduled testimony, causing disruption and slowing the inquiry’s progress. On 4 March 2026, Mogotsi submitted a certificate the chairperson described as “one of those useless so-called medical certificates,” while in July, Johnson’s note was also rejected for insufficient explanation of her alleged inability to appear.

The commission has signalled it may call issuing doctors to testify about their notes’ validity or refer dubious certificates to the Health Professions Council of South Africa for investigation. “We are not going to sit here and continue receiving useless medical certificates like the last one was and like yours appears to be,” Madlanga stated during a public sitting. The commission highlighted its limited timeframe to conclude hearings, warning further delays threaten the integrity of the process.

Inquiry Faces Pressure To Maintain Credibility And Pace

The Madlanga Commission was tasked with investigating systemic police corruption and the alleged influence of political actors within law enforcement. Since February 2026, it has faced repeated postponements based on certificates submitted by witnesses including police officials and alleged middlemen. Proceedings have been hampered by testimony deferrals, raising public concerns around obstruction and accountability in high-profile corruption cases.

Justice Madlanga has maintained a firm stance, stating, “We have very limited time to finalise our investigation.” The inquiry’s next steps may set an important precedent for handling delaying tactics in South African commissions. Observers suggest summoning doctors and involving the Health Professions Council could deter the submission of questionable medical certificates in future hearings.

The commission is expected to decide soon whether to call the relevant doctors and how it will address ongoing delays.