Justice Minister Denies Budget Concerns Behind Advocate Motau’s Exit from Madlanga Commission
Viable News Team 
Image Credit: GovernmentZA
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has moved to dispel claims that financial constraints played a role in the resignation of Advocate Terry Motau SC, the former Chief Evidence Leader of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
This comes after reports suggested that budgetary issues may have influenced Motau’s decision to step down.
No Budget Issues Raised Formally
In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Justice confirmed that the Commission’s budget of R147.9 million has been “properly managed and communicated,” with no formal concerns raised with the Department.
“The Minister wishes to place on record that budgetary matters relating to the Commission have been properly managed and communicated, and at no point were formal concerns about the budget raised with the Department,” the statement read.
The Department also stressed that Motau himself was directly involved in determining the fee structure for both his own services and those of his junior counsel.
Commission Budget Breakdown
The R147.9 million allocation for the Madlanga Commission is distributed as follows:
- R10.898 million – Compensation of employees, including commissioners, evidence leaders, investigators, researchers and secretariat staff
- R100.744 million – Goods and services, such as communications, ICT, consultants, legal services, and travel and subsistence
- R36.258 million – Capital expenditure, mainly for secure ICT infrastructure including computers, servers and related systems
The Commission continues to operate from the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College, a state-owned facility, at no extra cost to the fiscus.
For security reasons, detailed expenditure related to protection measures will only be disclosed in the Commission’s final report.
Call for Clarity from Motau
The Department encouraged Advocate Motau to clarify his reasons for stepping down instead of attributing them to funding issues.
“The Minister further encourages Advocate Motau to provide clarity to the public on the reasons for his decision to resign, rather than placing undue liability on the Department in so far as the budget is concerned,” the statement noted.
Commission to Resume Hearings
Following the appointment of Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC as the new Chief Evidence Leader, the Madlanga Commission is set to resume hearings on 13 October 2025 at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College.
The Commission, established by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is tasked with probing political interference, corruption, and criminal infiltration within South Africa’s justice system.
About the Author
