THE GREAT PURGE: The List of Top Cops Set to be Fired Following the Madlanga Report Exposed!
The long-awaited day of reckoning for South Africa’s security cluster has finally arrived. In a move that has sent ripples of anxiety through the upper echelons of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially welcomed the interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. This is not just another bureaucratic document; it is a bombshell that is set to trigger a massive, unprecedented purge of high-ranking officials who have allegedly turned the criminal justice system into a playground for syndicates and political masters.
The Madlanga Commission, chaired by the esteemed retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was established in July 2025 following explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi’s testimony pulled back the curtain on a sophisticated web of criminality, political interference, and corruption that had allegedly captured key units within the police. Now, the interim report, submitted on 17 December 2025 and made public in late January 2026, has provided the "prima facie" evidence needed to start the cleanup.
The SAPS "Hit List" Exposed
At the heart of the report is a list of five senior SAPS officials who are now facing the very real prospect of losing their careers, their reputations, and potentially their freedom. These individuals, who once held the power of life and death over the citizens of Mzansi, have been flagged for allegations ranging from corruption and fraud to the most serious charge of all: murder.
The names that have sent a chill through the security cluster include:
• Major General Lesetja Senona
• Major General Richard Shibiri
• Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu
• Brigadier Rachel Matjeng
• Sergeant Fannie Nkosi
These officials are accused of being part of a "shadow command" that operated outside the law, using their positions to protect criminal interests and silence those who dared to blow the whistle. The Presidency has been clear: the matters referred relate to allegations of “criminality, corruption, fraud, murder, perjury and other unlawful actions.” While these remain prima facie allegations, the seriousness of the charges has prompted Ramaphosa to order immediate referrals for investigation and possible disciplinary or prosecutorial action.
The Ekurhuleni Connection: A Multi-Agency Cleanup
The purge is not limited to the SAPS. The Madlanga Commission has also uncovered a parallel web of corruption within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD). Nine current and former employees have been identified for immediate investigation, highlighting the extent to which local government structures have been infiltrated by criminal elements.
The list of implicated Ekurhuleni officials includes:
• Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended EMPD Chief of Police
• Dr Imogen Mashazi, former EMM City Manager
• Linda Gxasheka, EMM Head of Human Resources
• Advocate Kemi Behari, EMM Head of Legal
• Chris Steyn, EEM Fleet Manager
• Bafana Twala, Aiden McKenzie, and Kershia Leigh Stols (EMPD officers)
• Etienne van der Walt
This "multi-agency cleanup" is a clear signal from the Presidency that the era of impunity is coming to an end. The inclusion of high-ranking administrative officials like the City Manager and the Head of Legal suggests that the corruption was not just operational but systemic, affecting the very governance of one of South Africa’s most important metropolitan areas.
The "Mutiny" and the Threat of Counter-Attacks
However, the "Great Purge" is not going to be a smooth process. Investigative sources suggest that the implicated officials are not going down without a fight. There are reports of a brewing "mutiny" within the SAPS, with some of the flagged generals allegedly planning "counter-attacks." These include threats to leak sensitive information about their superiors and even high-ranking political leaders.
One source within the security cluster, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the atmosphere as "toxic."
“Some of these guys have been in the system for decades. They know where the bodies are buried, literally and figuratively. They have already threatened to ‘burn the house down’ if they are forced out. This is not just about a few bad apples; it’s about a whole orchard that has gone rotten.”
This highlights the extreme danger of allowing criminal syndicates to take root within the state. Once they are entrenched, they are incredibly difficult to remove, as they use the very tools of the state—intelligence, surveillance, and legal resources—to protect themselves. The President will need to ensure that the process is handled with the utmost care to avoid a total collapse of law enforcement during this transition.
A Turning Point for Mzansi
For years, South Africans have complained about the "rotten apples" in the police force, but the Madlanga Report has finally provided a roadmap for reform. President Ramaphosa has directed Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to establish a special investigations task team to fast-track the cases against those identified.
“Establishing a special unit is critical to ensure that these investigations take place as a matter of urgency,” the Presidency stated. This is a moment where the rule of law must prevail over the rule of the syndicate. The world is watching to see if South Africa can truly clean its own house, or if the rot has gone too deep to be removed.
The "Great Purge" is more than just a headline; it is a promise to the people of Mzansi that their safety is no longer for sale. The road ahead is long and fraught with danger, but the first steps have been taken. As the first precautionary suspensions are announced, the public is watching closely. Will the government follow through on its promises, or will the "untouchables" find a way to survive yet again?
The Legacy of the Madlanga Commission
The Madlanga Commission’s work is far from over. While the interim report has provided the first list of names, more witnesses are yet to deliver their evidence, and some of the implicated individuals are set to return to the commission to respond to the allegations. Spokesperson Jeremy Michaels has stressed that the commission will continue to work in partnership with law enforcement and oversight institutions like the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The commission has also raised questions about the delays in existing IPID investigations, suggesting that the "shadow command" may have had influence even over the bodies meant to oversee the police. This level of capture is what makes the Madlanga Commission so vital; it is an independent body that is finally speaking truth to power.
In the end, the success of the "Great Purge" will depend on political will. President Ramaphosa has called on all law enforcement agencies to act with speed. The era of the "untouchable" cop must end if South Africa is to restore public trust in its criminal justice system. The "Great Purge" is the first step on that long and difficult road. Justice will be served, and the truth will finally come to light for all to see.
Conclusion: The Fight for the Soul of the SAPS
As we move deeper into 2026, the battle for the soul of the SAPS will intensify. The "Great Purge" is a necessary operation to save a dying system. The R15.5 billion in civil claims against the SAPS and the plummeting public trust are clear indicators that the status quo is unsustainable. The Madlanga Report has given us the names; now we need the courage to act.
The people of Mzansi are waiting for a police force they can finally trust—a force that protects the innocent and pursues the guilty, regardless of their rank or political connections. The "Great Purge" is the beginning of that journey. It is a story of accountability, justice, and the long-overdue cleanup of a system that has failed the people for far too long. There is no turning back now. The era of justice has begun.
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