Is Parliament likely to get to the bottom of the alleged cops corruption scandal?
With arrests mounting and a commission of inquiry underway, will MPs put the country or party politics first in investigating claims of political interference in the police service?
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
702's Bongani Bingwa is joined by political analyst Thobani Zikalala.
Listen below:
The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional development has recommended that the National Assembly set up an ad hoc committee to investigate claims of corruption in the police service.
Suspended minister Senzo Mchunu has been accused of interfering with criminal investigations in order to protect his associates and criminal overlords.
He has been placed on special leave, but police continue to make arrests - especially of some of the names mentioned by his accuser, KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
South Africans are left wondering whether the commission of inquiry set up by President Ramaphosa will get to the nub of the allegations, and do so timeously?
Zikala says the hope is that Members of Parliament put the interests of the country first...
"We have seen the past, with the Phala Phala report, where the ANC Members of Parliament in their overwhelming majority put the interests of the party before the interests of the State."
- Thobani Zikalala, Political Analyst
"The numbers complicate it, because we don't have an ANC that has a 50 plus one majority in Parliament and, of course, we don't have any other party that's got a majority."
- Thobani Zikalala, Political Analyst
Will opposition parties in Parliament be able to work together to make sure that accountability happens, if and when, the ad hoc committee is established, asks Zikalala?
He says it's a situation that will test whether Parliament takes its job seriously.
"...[it will] also test the strength of the power that Parliament has on oversight on the Executive, but also whether Parliament takes seriously the national security of the country."
- Thobani Zikalala, Political Analyst
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