The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Tuesday urged acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to relinquish his role in what it says is a “disgrace and fake process”, which the party warns will taint his legacy in the legal profession.

This after the commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system announced that it was unable to begin its work owing to failure by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to procure the necessary infrastructure, despite having made commitments that it would be able to do so.

The commission was established in July, following explosive allegations of corruption, political interference, and malfeasance, with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi specifically accusing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of unilaterally disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and redirecting 121 active investigation dockets to the office of National Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, where they have allegedly been neutralised.

Mchunu has since been placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The EFF claimed that Madlanga was being used as a “pawn” in a process that it believed was a “political ploy” to quickly "ease crime anxieties".

It said the commission was a “pretence at action".

The EFF said it was not surprised by the announcement of the delays to the commencement, saying this formed part of a “deliberate attempt to stifle accountability”.

The commission is due to begin its work on September 1.

“…the fact that this commission, which was supposed to provide an interim report of its work in three-months has not had the necessary resources allocated to it is a testament to the fact that its establishment was a political ploy to ease the anxieties of South Africans in the immediate, hoping that our nation would in time collectively forget the damning allegations against Mchunu and our law enforcement agencies, which were alleged to be captured by criminal networks and drug syndicates,” the party stated.

Following the establishment of the commission, opposition parties have since expressed scepticism and concerns about whether it will lead to accountability and prosecutions.

The EFF said Mchunu continued to draw the benefits of a Minister, accusing Ramaphosa of “patronage and political allegiance”.

“…not only has Senzo Mchunu avoided accountability, but he also continues to live a life of privilege because it comes at no personal expense to those who owe favour to Mchunu within the African National Congress,” said the EFF.

The party reiterated its call for Mchunu to be removed as a Member of Cabinet to protect the public purse and taxpayer money.