Accountability Bodies
Every national commission and parliamentary inquiry since 1994. Two branches of government. One accountability record.
Executive
Legislature
Both can investigate the same matter simultaneously. This happened with the Mkhwanazi allegations — creating a unique constitutional moment where both branches of government investigated in parallel.
See the Mkhwanazi storyShowing all 21 commissions
Chair: Mbuyiseli Madlanga · Established by: Cyril Ramaphosa
To investigate General Mkhwanazi's allegations that senior SAPS leadership and the Ministry of Police protected a criminal syndicate linked to businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, including the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team and the handling of the Medicare 24 Tshwane District healthcare contract.
Chair: TBA · Established by: Cyril Ramaphosa
To investigate allegations that efforts were made to stop the investigation or prosecution of cases that arose from the TRC process — meaning apartheid-era perpetrators who were denied amnesty and should have faced prosecution.
Chair: Yvonne Mokgoro · Established by: Cyril Ramaphosa
To investigate whether NPA Deputy NDPP Nomgcobo Jiba and Advocate Lawrence Mrwebi were fit to hold their senior positions, amid allegations of improper case withdrawal and political interference in prosecutions.
Chair: Robert Nugent · Established by: Cyril Ramaphosa
To investigate governance failures and alleged misconduct at SARS under Commissioner Tom Moyane, including the dismantling of the High Risk Investigations Unit.
Chair: Lex Mpati · Established by: Cyril Ramaphosa
To investigate allegations of impropriety at the Public Investment Corporation under CEO Dan Matjila, involving irregular investments and conflicts of interest affecting R2 trillion in public pension funds.
Chair: Raymond Zondo · Established by: Cyril Ramaphosa
To investigate the nature and extent of state capture — the systematic corruption of state institutions for private benefit — including the role of the Gupta family network, Jacob Zuma, and senior officials across state-owned enterprises and government.
Chair: John Heher · Established by: Jacob Zuma
To investigate the feasibility of making higher education and training fee-free in South Africa, following the #FeesMustFall protests.
Chair: Nazeer Ahmed Cassim · Established by: Jacob Zuma
To investigate the fitness of NDPP Mxolisi Nxasana to hold office. Nxasana was subsequently paid R17.3 million to leave, which was later declared unlawful by the courts.
Chair: Kate O'Regan
To investigate allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha township and the breakdown in relations between the community and SAPS. Established by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille.
Chair: Ian Farlam · Established by: Jacob Zuma
To investigate the deaths of 34 striking miners at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine, shot by police on 16 August 2012, as well as 10 further deaths in preceding days.
Chair: Willie Seriti · Established by: Jacob Zuma
To investigate fraud, corruption and irregularities in South Africa's multibillion-rand Strategic Defence Procurement Package (the Arms Deal) of the late 1990s, amid allegations of widespread bribery.
Chair: Frene Ginwala · Established by: Kgalema Motlanthe
To investigate whether NDPP Vusi Pikoli was fit to hold office, after President Mbeki suspended him — allegedly to prevent the arrest of National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Chair: Sisi Khampepe · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate the Directorate of Special Operations (the Scorpions) and recommend whether they should be amalgamated into SAPS or the NPA.
Chair: Joos Hefer · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate allegations that NDPP Bulelani Ngcuka was an apartheid-era spy, following claims made by Mac Maharaj and Mo Shaik.
Chair: Michael Donen · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate South African companies accused of paying illegal surcharges to the Iraqi government under the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme.
Chair: John Myburgh · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate the rapid devaluation of the external value of the South African Rand in late 2001, amid allegations of market manipulation.
Chair: Jody Kollapen
To investigate human rights violations within farming communities, including evictions, labour abuse, violence and inadequate access to services for farm workers.
Chair: Thabani Jali · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate corruption, violence, intimidation and maladministration within the Department of Correctional Services (prisons).
Chair: H C Nel · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate the collapse of the Masterbond Group and the need for better investor protection in South Africa.
Chair: B M Ngoepe · Established by: Thabo Mbeki
To investigate the Ellis Park Stadium disaster of 11 April 2001 in which 43 people were killed in a crowd crush during an Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs match.
Chair: Archbishop Desmond Tutu · Established by: Nelson Mandela
To investigate gross human rights violations committed between 1960 and 1994 under apartheid, grant amnesty to those who made full disclosure, and help South Africa transition peacefully to democracy.
Pattern analysis
Three decades of commissions, read at a glance. Click through to the evidence.
Judges, witnesses, and implicated figures reappear for decades. Follow them across the archive.