Parliament acts on Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi's explosive claims with plans for ad hoc committee
Image: Thobile Mathonsi / Independent Newspapers
The Portfolio Committee on Police and the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development took a significant step forward by adopting a report that calls for the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee.
This committee is aimed at investigating serious allegations made against Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS). This announcement has stirred anticipation regarding the implications for governance and accountability within South Africa's criminal justice framework.
The adopted report articulates the joint committees' stance that an Ad Hoc Committee represents the most effective parliamentary tool for a comprehensive inquiry into these troubling allegations. In contrast to the ongoing oversight functions of standard portfolio committees, which often find themselves balancing multiple priorities, an Ad Hoc Committee would focus specifically on the task at hand, ensuring a streamlined process designed to reach conclusions swiftly and efficiently.
Central to the report is a recommendation that the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee should fall under National Assembly Rule 253, intended for time-bound, task-specific investigations.
The committees suggested that, should the National Assembly agree to this recommendation, the inquiry should aim for a resolution within 90 days from its formation, although this timeframe can be extended if required.
The gravity of the allegations associated with Lieutenant General Mkwanazi cannot be understated, as they carry significant implications for the rule of law and public trust in state institutions.
The joint committees emphasised the necessity of approaching this inquiry with utmost seriousness. The establishment of a focused, multi-party committee is seen as essential to ensuring transparency, fairness, and thoroughness in the process.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Moreover, the committees underscored Parliament's constitutional obligation to oversee state institutions and uphold justice, integrity, and accountability as core principles in their deliberations. Their firm commitment to ensuring a principled handling of the matter highlights an essential aspect of parliamentary responsibility, particularly in matters as sensitive as those concerning law enforcement.
As the report now heads to the National Assembly for consideration, observers await how the Assembly will respond and what the eventual committee will look like, including its members and terms of reference. This development represents a crucial moment for South Africa's justice system, with the potential to reinforce accountability at a foundational level.
IOL
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
17 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Parliament agrees to establish ad hoc committee into Mkhwanazi's allegations
There were no objections from any political parties and the committee was unanimously established. The National Assembly (NA) has unanimously agreed to establish an ad hoc committee into the explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi regarding security matters that have implications for the country's national security. The joint committee meeting in Parliament between the Portfolio Committee on Police and the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development took the decision on Wednesday. Ad hoc committee It also recommended that the committee should identify any legislative or policy failures that may have contributed to the policing crisis. The decision to establish an ad-hoc committee follows a directive from National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza earlier this month asking the committees to come up with an appropriate approach to oversight concerning the allegations. The committees had considered other options, including conducting a full investigative inquiry under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act and exercising their conferring powers in terms of National Assembly Rule 169 — which dictates how committees can or must consult or meet with each other. ALSO READ: Police minister Mchunu 'now under criminal investigation' Oversight Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said following the committees' consideration of the matter, as part of their recommendations, they identified various issues arising from the allegations as falling within the NA's accountability and oversight function. 'The issues include the alleged unlawful decision by Minister Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), the alleged unlawful removal of 121 case dockets from the PKTT on the direction of the Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, the alleged moratorium by Minister Mchunu on filling vacancies within the Saps' Crime Intelligence Unit. 'It also includes whether Minister Mchunu misled Parliament about the nature of his relationship with Mr Brown Mogotsi, whether the award of a R360 million contract to Mr Matlala's company for the provision of healthcare services to Saps was irregular and the alleged interference by IDAC in police matters, including jurisdictional issues, among others,' Mothapo said. ANC Support ANC MP Mogodu Moela said the ANC supports the ad hoc committee and that Mkhwanazi's allegations 'cannot be left unexamined.' Moela said it 'paints a disturbing picture.' 'Parliament has the authority to get to the bottom of these claims. We cannot allow a culture of impunity to take root. We will not shield wrongdoing.' There were no objections from any political parties and the committee was unanimously established. Moela said the ANC will also support the judicial commission of inquiry established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe Mkhwanazi's allegations. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa appoints Gwede Mantashe as acting police minister Final report The report, which will be submitted to the NA for consideration, also emphasised the need for the NA to ensure an expeditious process. The ad hoc committee would also sit and determine their terms of reference. The committees have recommended that the ad hoc committee process be concluded within 90 days from it being formed. Allegations Mkhwanazi alleged political interference in police operations, claiming that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya had meddled. These allegedly include issuing letters to disband a task force, halt crime intelligence appointments, and withdraw case dockets to Sibiya's office. Both Mchunu and Sibiya have been placed on a leave of absence. ALSO READ: Fake commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazis pop up online
Eyewitness News
6 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
On the brink of a budget: Will the GNU survive this test? We interview Dr Mmusi Maimane
It's crunch time in Parliament today (Wednesday). The ANC has been scrambling to get enough votes to pass the national budget today with the DA playing hardball. The blue party has been refusing to support the Appropriations Bill or any budget tied to ANC ministers facing misconduct allegations, saying corruption shouldn't be funded. In a dramatic twist, President Ramaphosa fired Minister Nkabane, but is that enough to save the budget? If this Appropriation Bill flops, it's not just a political embarrassment; it could mean no money for schools, hospitals, or even salaries, explains Maimane.
Daily Maverick
7 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
SA government officially withdraws recognition of Taiwan's office in Pretoria
Taiwan has rejected the move and threatened to retaliate, saying that Pretoria had bowed to pressure from Beijing. The South African government has issued a Government Gazette officially withdrawing its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan's representative office in Pretoria. This is the latest move in Pretoria's mounting pressure to force Taiwan to move out of its Pretoria office and relocate to Johannesburg. Taiwan has rejected and strongly protested at the 'unilateral action' and said it would 'take appropriate action in accordance with the circumstances'. It said the SA government had bowed to pressure from Beijing. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) said the South African government had published its 'unreasonable announcement' — without consulting Taiwan — after Deputy President Paul Mashatile's visit to China from July 14 to 18. 'This demonstrates that China has ramped up suppression of Taiwan in South Africa and that South Africa is willing to bow to China and exert pressure on Taiwan. Mofa expresses regret and dissatisfaction over these developments.' Pretoria's notice in the Government Gazette said, 'The Taipei Liaison Office, now referred to as the Taipei Commercial Office, situated in Pretoria, will no longer be recognised as of 31 March 2025. Rather, the Republic of South Africa will, from 1 April 2025, recognise the Taipei Commercial Office, based in Johannesburg, through which consular services will be rendered and through which non-diplomatic and non-political engagements will continue.' Taiwan has no office in Johannesburg, even though on its website, South Africa's Department of International Relations recently and unilaterally changed the address of the country's office from Pretoria to an address in Johannesburg, which used to house Taiwan's information office, before it moved out several years ago. One China policy The SA government has been putting pressure on Taiwan to move from Pretoria to Johannesburg since late 2023. It claimed that Taiwan having an office in the capital violates the One China policy, which SA adopted in 1998 when it switched recognition from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China. However, Taiwan has pointed out that almost all countries in the world, including Russia, India and Brazil, allow Taiwan to maintain representative offices in their capital cities, although these offices go under the name of Taiwan's capital, Taipei, rather than under the name Taiwan. In its notice, SA said it had called on Taiwan to move its office from Pretoria to Johannesburg because this was 'more appropriate, given its status as the country's economic hub'. It added that the Taipei Liaison Office in Cape Town would now be referred to as the Taipei Commercial Office in Cape Town. Taiwan's Mofa said it 'reiterates that the position of the Taiwan government remains unchanged and that it will not accept the South African government's unilateral violation of its 1997 agreement with Taiwan'. This agreement by SA to allow Taiwan to continue maintaining a representative office in Pretoria — but under the name Taipei Liaison Office — was reached after SA switched its official diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. 'The Taiwan government will continue to communicate with the South African government on the principles of parity and dignity,' said Mofa. 'And in the face of South Africa's repeated unilateral changes to the names and status of Taiwan's liaison offices, Taiwan will take appropriate action in accordance with the circumstances.' Pretoria had justified its move by citing UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971, 'which recognises the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China'. However, Taiwan has said in the past that this resolution says nothing about the country not being allowed in countries which switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing. 'Mofa solemnly calls on South Africa, as the host country of this year's Group of 20 summit, to abide by the 1997 legal framework concerning bilateral relations and not employ coercive tactics against Taiwan's liaison offices or take any other actions that might interfere with their operations or services before both sides have reached a consensus through consultations.' SA's efforts to pressure Taiwan to move from Pretoria to Johannesburg have been cited by the Trump administration and US congressional representatives as one of the reasons they are seeking to sanction South Africa. DM
