In a rare show of unity, Parliament has unanimously agreed to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate the jaw-dropping corruption allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi earlier this month. The decision was made by a joint sitting of the Portfolio Committees on Police and Justice and Constitutional Development, and adopted by the National Assembly on Wednesday.
This comes after Speaker Thoko Didiza instructed MPs earlier this month to come up with a plan to deal with Mkhwanazi’s explosive claims of collusion between criminals and law enforcement. Now, the newly formed committee has 90 days to get to the bottom of it all — and that includes looking into the role of none other than Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Among the issues the committee will investigate: whether Mchunu tried to disband the Political Killings Task Team; whether he misled Parliament about his relationship with alleged fixer Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi; and broader allegations of corruption within SAPS, including dodgy tenders, interference in investigations, and hiring freezes in key crime-fighting units.
But it’s not just about investigating people. The committee is also tasked with identifying where government policies or laws may have allowed this rot to take hold, and proposing fixes.
Police committee chair Ian Cameron said Parliament welcomed Ramaphosa’s decision to launch a separate judicial commission of inquiry earlier this month, but emphasised that Parliament must do its own oversight. “As a people-centred Parliament, we were duty-bound to respond to the allegations made without delay,” he said.
The new ad hoc committee will set its own terms of reference and hopefully get to work fast. Between Parliament and the judicial commission, there’s now real momentum to unpack one of the most serious threats to the police in recent memory. Let’s hope it won’t turn into a pile of reports gathering dust. 🤨
