Dr Sifolo agrees to public use of some documents but restricts sensitive records | Madlanga Commission - IOL
Retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has revealed that the acting co-ordinator of the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC), Dr Ntandazo Sifolo, has agreed for part of his testimony to be made public.
The acting co-ordinator of the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC), Dr Ntandazo Sifolo, has agreed to allow some of his documents to be used during public hearings of the Madlanga Commission, but has restricted other records to closed-door proceedings.
NICOC is a body responsible for co-ordinating intelligence assessments across the government.
Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said the evidence leaders must provide the respondents’ legal representatives with three schedules detailing the different restrictions by 1pm on Thursday.
The schedules distinguish between documents that may be used to question witnesses in open hearings, material that may also be displayed publicly, and records reserved for in-camera questioning.
Under Annexure A, documents may be used to question Sifolo and other witnesses in public, but cannot themselves be displayed during the hearings.
Annexure C contains documents that may be used in open proceedings and displayed at the evidence leader’s discretion.
Annexure B covers documents Sifolo has withheld from use in open hearings but permits for questioning during private proceedings.
The respondents’ lawyers must receive a redacted copy of the schedule, together with Sifolo’s reasons for imposing the restrictions.
The ruling allows the respondents to pursue further relief over the limited in-camera hearing.
If they proceed, they must file a supplementary answering affidavit by November 3, with the evidence leaders permitted to respond by November 5.
Both sides may submit further written legal arguments by November 6.
Meanwhile, the media has opposed the push for closed-door testimony, arguing that restricting public access risks undermining transparency and accountability.
