SAPS corruption inquiry won’t affect Parly probe into same claims
This is the assurance from the chairpersons of Parliament’s justice and police portfolio committees, Xola Nqola and Ian Cameron.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu (far right) is accompanied by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to address the Soshanguve residents after the murder of at least six community patrollers. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
CAPE TOWN - The establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) will not affect the parliamentary investigation into the same claims.
This is the assurance from the chairpersons of Parliament’s Justice and Police portfolio committees, Xola Nqola and Ian Cameron.
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Nqola and Cameron said they’ve noted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the inquiry on Sunday night, but they will continue with their Parliament inquiry.
The two said they believe the judicial inquiry will “rejuvenate the entire criminal justice system”.
A week after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made damning allegations implicating Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu in alleged corruption, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza announced that three committees of Parliament will conduct an inquiry into the claims.
The committees to head the parliamentary probe are the joint standing committee on intelligence and the justice and police oversight committees.
The justice and police committees said that while the inquiry is welcomed, it doesn’t affect the parliamentary process.
Nqola said the instruction from Didiza was clear, “and the committees will endeavour to urgently implement the directive”.
Cameron said Parliament should always play a central role.
“We have Parliament for a reason. So, this coming Wednesday, the police portfolio committee as well as the justice and constitutional development will meet together to determine the way forward in terms of Parliament.”
Mchunu will also face another parliamentary process when the joint ethics committee looks into a complaint by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which accuses him of lying to the police committee when he denied any knowledge of businessman Brown Mogotsi, a central figure in Mkhwanazi’s allegations.