The Madlanga Commission has heard testimony pointing to a significant breakdown in communication and coordination between the Provincial Key Task Team (PKTT) and provincial detective units following the transfer of sensitive criminal dockets.
Witnesses described a handover process that prioritised administrative compliance over operational continuity. While physical files were transferred and formally acknowledged, little attention was given to ensuring that investigative context, strategic intent, and accumulated intelligence moved with the dockets.
According to evidence, PKTT investigators who had worked on cases for extended periods were not systematically briefed to receiving units. Instead, provincial detectives were often left to reconstruct complex investigations from written records alone, a task made more difficult by inconsistent documentation practices.
Commissioners questioned why no structured debriefing sessions were conducted between outgoing PKTT members and incoming investigators. Witnesses acknowledged that no such protocol existed, and that communication after transfer was largely informal and ad hoc.
The commission heard that this lack of structured engagement resulted in investigative drift. In several cases, lines of inquiry previously identified by PKTT were not pursued with the same urgency or clarity, leading to duplication of work or abandonment of promising leads.
Legal representatives assisting the commission noted that continuity is especially critical in organised crime and corruption cases, where institutional memory plays a central role. Commissioners echoed this concern, warning that investigative resets can significantly weaken cases.
Testimony also revealed that provincial units were sometimes hesitant to seek clarification from PKTT counterparts, citing uncertainty about jurisdiction and authority after transfer. This further deepened the disconnect between units.
The commission is examining whether this breakdown reflects broader structural weaknesses in SAPS inter-unit coordination. At issue is whether the organisation is equipped to manage transitions in complex investigations without losing momentum.
As hearings continue, the commission is expected to consider whether mandatory handover frameworks should be instituted to safeguard continuity in future high-risk cases.