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 10 committees
Chair: Molapi Lekganyane · Parliament: 7th Parliament (2024-2029)
To investigate the allegations made public by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025 concerning corruption, political interference, and criminality within the South African Police Service and Crime Intelligence, and to assess the security implications for the country.
Chair: Cedric Frolick · Parliament: 6th Parliament (2019-2024)
To oversee government's response to catastrophic flooding in KwaZulu-Natal (April 2022) and other provinces, monitor relief and recovery spending, and make recommendations on disaster preparedness.
Chair: Qubudile Dyantyi · Parliament: 6th Parliament (2019-2024)
To interview and recommend candidates to the President for appointment as Public Protector, following the term end of Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
Chair: Qubudile Dyantyi · Parliament: 6th Parliament (2019-2024)
To conduct a Section 194 inquiry into whether Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane was guilty of misconduct or incapacity, following multiple court findings against her and a preliminary independent panel finding that there was a prima facie case.
Chair: Mathole Motshekga · Parliament: 6th Parliament (2019-2024)
To interview and recommend a candidate to the President for appointment as Auditor-General, following the retirement of Kimi Makwetu.
Chair: Mathole Motshekga · Parliament: 6th Parliament (2019-2024)
To initiate and introduce legislation to amend Section 25 of the Constitution to make explicit that land may be expropriated without compensation where the public interest requires it.
Chair: Vincent Smith · Parliament: 5th Parliament (2014-2019)
To introduce and process legislation requiring disclosure of private funding sources of political parties, in response to Constitutional Court rulings that the absence of such legislation was unconstitutional.
Chair: Vincent Smith · Parliament: 5th Parliament (2014-2019)
To inquire into the fitness of the members of the SABC Board to hold office, following a period of severe governance failures, editorial interference, and financial mismanagement at the public broadcaster.
Chair: Cedric Frolick · Parliament: 5th Parliament (2014-2019)
To consider the Police Minister's report on the security upgrades at President Zuma's private Nkandla homestead, which cost taxpayers over R246 million, and the Public Protector's remedial action requiring Zuma to repay a portion.
Chair: Cecil Burgess · Parliament: 4th Parliament (2009-2014)
To process the Protection of State Information Bill, widely known as the 'Secrecy Bill', which proposed to classify state information and criminalise its disclosure — raising serious concerns about press freedom and the right of access to information.
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.