Are inquiries still effective in SA?

COMMISSIONS of inquiry normally have a role to play in a society but in South Africa they have lost their meaning due to their lack of implementation of the recommendations.

- RAPULA MOATSHE

This was according to political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe, who commented on the role of commissions in the country amid public scepticism on whether the ongoing Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa, will achieve its intended purpose.

The Commission, which has been adjourned until October 13, is probing allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa’ criminal justice system.

Seepe explained that commissions of inquiry are fundamentally designed to investigate and understand the root causes of social crises.

“They are geared more towards understanding so that you can come up with recommendations to prevent certain things from happening. But, what has happened in South Africa is that the commissions have lost their original mandate. They are now seen as places of faultfinding against certain people,’ he said.

Seepe thinks public frustration with commissions was justified, given their hefty price tags.

The Madlanga Commission, for instance, is expected to cost taxpayers at least R147.9 million over six months while the Zondo Commission cost nearly R1 billion over four years, making it one of the most expensive.

“They are used to almost replace proper criminal investigation. For instance, the matter of Senzo Mchunu should have been left to the police to deal with the issue of crime, as one aspect. At the same time the police should have been beefed up to investigate this infiltration,” Seepe said.