By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Advocates for Transformation (AFT) has condemned threats directed at Madlanga Commission of Inquiry member Sandile Khumalo and its members.
Khumalo, AFT national chairperson Adv. Myron Dewrance SC, and members of Dewrance’s family and friends have all received the threats.
Threatening communications have been sent from multiple cellphone numbers, including details tracking the locations, workplaces, and daily movements of those targeted.
The campaign recently escalated to include explicit threats of sexual violence against women connected to the targets.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 08 September 2026, “AFT said Khumalo, the organisation’s chairperson, advocate Myron Dewrance SC, as well as members of Dewrance’s family and friends, have been targeted through threatening communications sent from multiple cellphone numbers.”
The organisation said it had deliberately refrained from making the threats public but decided to speak out because the threats have become increasingly aggressive and had escalated to include explicit threats of sexual violence.
According to AFT, the threatening messages repeatedly mention both Dewrance and Khumalo, invoke the organisation by name and, in some cases, claim knowledge of the locations, workplaces and movements of those being targeted. It said all available evidence has been preserved.
AFT said the matter extends beyond a dispute involving individual advocates and reflects a broader pattern of intimidation against prosecutors, lawyers, investigators and other justice officials in South Africa.
The organisation warned that attacks on those responsible for administering justice ultimately undermine the rule of law.
AFT said its preliminary enquiries indicate that the apparent grievance behind the threats may be connected to disciplinary proceedings involving a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates (JSA), who had been charged with serious professional misconduct.
It said that at the time, Khumalo chaired the JSA’s Professional Committee and served on the JSA Bar Council after being nominated by AFT.
According to the organisation, the threatening communications repeatedly blame Khumalo for what occurred during those disciplinary proceedings, instruct Dewrance and members of his family to “blame Sandile”, and make repeated references to AFT, its members and its leadership.
AFT said the apparent targeting of Dewrance cannot be separated from his position as the organisation’s National Chairperson, while the threats directed at Khumalo are inseparable from the professional responsibilities he carried out.
The organisation stressed that its enquiries remain preliminary and that it is not accusing the advocate who was the subject of the disciplinary proceedings, the JSA or any identified individual of responsibility for the threats.
“It is a matter for further investigation,” the statement said.
Khumalo serves on the commission alongside retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and Commissioner Sesi Baloyi. The inquiry is investigating allegations of criminality, corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system.