Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has announced the suspension of the department’s director general, Doc Mashabane, in a move that comes during a week of dramatic developments within the justice system.
Kubayi addressed the media on Tuesday, revealing that Mashabane was formally notified on Friday that his contract with the department had come to an end. She said the suspension follows procedural steps and forms part of a wider effort to restore accountability and improve leadership within the department.
This announcement follows growing concerns over delays in the high-profile Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which was set up to investigate claims of political interference, criminality and corruption within the criminal justice system. The commission was initially scheduled to begin hearings on 1 September but announced on Tuesday that the proceedings would be delayed due to infrastructure and administrative challenges.
“No new date has been confirmed for the commission to start,” Minister Kubayi said. “The department is working with stakeholders to ensure that the necessary systems are put in place to support the commission’s work.”
The Madlanga Commission was triggered by explosive allegations from KwaZulu Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed that senior officials in the criminal justice system had interfered in police operations for political or personal gain.
The delay in the hearings, combined with ongoing leadership instability in the department, has raised serious questions about the state's ability to investigate itself.
Kubayi’s suspension of Doc Mashabane is seen by some as an effort to clear the path for more effective leadership and cooperation with the commission’s objectives. However, no details have been released about whether the suspension is linked to any specific misconduct or related to the commission’s investigations.suspension of Doc Mashabane is seen by some as an effort to clear the path for more effective leadership and cooperation with the commission’s objectives.
This comes just as the department faces scrutiny over internal governance, with Kubayi confirming that 54 officials have recently been dismissed in what she described as a major internal crackdown on corruption and maladministration. The minister did not provide names or specific roles of those dismissed but stated that the clean-up operation would continue.
In another unsettling development on Tuesday, an assistant to an ANC councillor was gunned down in Gqeberha, just minutes before Minister Kubayi was due to visit the area. The killing has sparked fears of growing political violence, although authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident is connected to the minister’s visit or broader tensions within the province.
“This is a deeply troubling time for the justice system and the country,” Kubayi said. “We must ensure that integrity and the rule of law are upheld. No one is above scrutiny.”
As the situation continues to unfold, observers are closely watching how the department will manage both the leadership transition and the challenges facing the delayed Madlanga Commission.
This is a developing story, and further updates are expected in the coming days.