Acting Coordinator of the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC), Dr Ntandazo Sifolo, has told the Madlanga Commission that growing links between politics and the criminal underworld pose a major threat to South Africa’s national security.
Sifolo testified on national intelligence assessments relating to organised crime, political killings, corruption and the alleged infiltration of state institutions.
His testimony speaks directly to the commission’s mandate to investigate criminality, corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system, including the possible involvement of state officials in criminal activities.
The first part of his testimony took place in an open session before proceedings continued behind closed doors.
Sifolo has shed light on intelligence assessments about organised crime and weaknesses within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
He said this threat became particularly evident during the 2021 local government elections, when political killings and intimidation increasingly threatened political stability.
“A matter of concern to the national intelligence structures has been the intertwine between politics and the criminal underworld, leading to high levels of insecurity in the country. This threat became more pronounced during the local government election of 2021, where murder and intimidation in the name of politics threatened to become a norm. It remains the duty of national intelligence structures to assure the conditions of safety and security in order to allow a thriving economic and stable environment,” said Sifolo.
Sifolo also warned about growing mafia-like criminal networkscorruption and the infiltration of law enforcement structures. He raised concerns about the private security sector increasingly taking on functions legally reserved for state law enforcement agencies. He said intelligence assessments had identified serious weaknesses within the state security apparatus, making it difficult to prevent and act against crime and corruption.
“The major contributor to the malaise has been the weakness within the state security apparatus to actively prevent, protect and sanction those associated with malfeasance. And then it goes on to say the involvement of law enforcement in various syndicated crimes such as cash in transit, heists, illegal mining, human smuggling, contraband, etc. adds impetus to the hopelessness of the public and widening trust deficit,” he added.
The Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) and the Investigating Directorate Against Crime (IDAC) also came under scrutiny during Sifolo’s testimony. He alleged that intelligence reports had raised concerns about the witting or unwitting role of these institutions in frustrating efforts to clean up the criminal justice system and address criminal infiltration within state institutions.
Sifolo told the commission that NICOC had requested that certain oversight investigations be postponed because they could interfere with an ongoing intelligence operation.
However, the request was not granted.
“Intelligence later revealed the witting or unwitting role of the Inspector General and the Investigating Directorate Against Crime (IDAC) in frustrating the strides of the intelligence services in addressing the priority of decontamination of the criminal justice system.”
The commission continues with its hearings on Friday.
Madlanga Commission of Inquiry Day 193 | 12 November 2026
Source: www.sabcnews.com
