The Madlanga Commission has rejected claims by controversial fixer Serge Cabonge that one of its members promised to shield him from appearing before the inquiry.
The commission said none of its officials had contacted Cabonge, contradicting claims he allegedly made in a telephone recording played at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court this week during the bail hearing of former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
“The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, commonly known as the Madlanga Commission, rejects outright the allegations purportedly made by Mr Serge Cabonge regarding ‘a man who sits in front of the Madlanga Commission’,” commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said in a statement on Thursday.
The commission issued a brief statement on the day the recording was played, indicating that it would engage with Cabonge to obtain a statement from him for further investigation.
Michaels said the commission was generally reluctant to comment on discussions involving witnesses or individuals it regarded as persons of interest. However, he said it had to clarify its position because Cabonge’s claims remained a subject of public discussion.
“Ordinarily, the Commission would allow that process to take its course without further public comment. However, ongoing commentary in the public domain has necessitated a further and clearer response. The nature of the allegations and commentary suggesting that senior representatives of a judicial commission sought to interfere with a criminal investigation cannot simply be allowed to circulate as though they have a factual foundation,” Michaels said.
“The Commission wants to state clearly and categorically that the allegations are false, incoherent and are not supported by any facts. None of the commissioners or evidence leaders have met, spoken to or know Mr Cabonge. Neither has anyone on behalf of the Commission ever communicated with Mr Cabonge, whether directly or through an intermediary, concerning Mr Cabonge’s appearance before the Commission.
“The Commission urges South Africans to treat allegations of this nature with the necessary caution.”
Meanwhile, the inquiry is scheduled to resume public hearings on 9 November.