Madlanga Commission figures named risk influencers of the year

The recognition of three figures associated with the Madlanga Commission at this year’s IRMSA Awards has placed a spotlight on a question increasingly relevant to South Africa: how should we understand and manage risk when the risks facing the country extend beyond the corporate environment and into the institutions responsible for protecting society?

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Advocate Sesi Baloyi and Advocate Sandile Khumalo were named Risk Influencers of the Year 2026 at the IRMSA Awards on 2 October, recognising their contribution to accountability and transparency through the work of the Commission.

The recognition comes as the Commission enters a critical phase.

Commission Timeline
Public hearings have been paused while sensitive evidence is heard in camera, with public proceedings scheduled to resume on 9 November, following the 4 November local government elections.

The Commission is expected to complete outstanding evidence, including testimony from suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, before Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi returns to the witness stand. Its final report is now due to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 25 January 2027.

The latest developments have also underscored the complexity of the risks being examined.

On 6 October, the planned in-camera testimony of former Deputy Crime Intelligence head Major-General Feroz Khan was postponed following the fatal shooting of a family member. Khan's testimony is expected to address matters previously raised before the Commission.

For the risk profession, the significance extends beyond the Commission itself.

“Risk management is ultimately about understanding vulnerabilities before they become crises. The issues emerging from the Madlanga Commission demonstrate that institutional integrity, governance, accountability and resilience are not separate from risk management, they are central to it,” says Yvonne Mothibi, CEO at IRMSA.

Evolution in the risk profession
The IRMSA Awards also recognised Malebu Makgalemela Mogohloane, Group Executive: Enterprise Risk Management, Security, Forensics & Insurance at Telkom, as Risk Leader of the Year 2026, with Phindile Shabalala, Chief Risk Officer at Joburg Market, named runner-up.

Together, the recognitions point to a broader evolution in the risk profession: from managing isolated organisational threats to understanding the interconnected risks that can affect institutions, businesses and society as a whole.

As South Africa awaits the Commission’s final findings, the risk conversation is therefore becoming increasingly important: strong institutions, effective governance and accountability are not simply matters of public administration, they are fundamental components of a resilient country.