National Assembly greenlights establishment of ad hoc committee to probe Mkhwanazi claims

CAPE TOWN - The National Assembly has given the go-ahead for the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of police corruption and interference made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

On Wednesday night, the National Assembly considered the report of the joint committees of police and justice and constitutional development, with political parties unanimously supporting its recommendations to look into Mkhwanazi’s claims.

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The ad hoc committee will also look into allegations that Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu misled Parliament about the nature of his relationship with Brown Mogotsi, one of the people implicated.

Police committee chairperson Ian Cameron said Parliament is duty-bound to respond to the damning allegations of corruption against police top brass and the criminal justice system.

He said the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry by President Cyril Ramaphosa was welcomed by the committees, but Parliament has a responsibility to conduct its own oversight.

“As a people-centred Parliament, we were duty-bound to respond to the allegations made without delay.”

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s Sibonelo Nomvalo said Mkhwanazi must be invited to expose all those implicated.

The committee will have three months to complete its investigation before reporting back to the National Assembly.