Parliament's ad hoc committee doesn't have powers to probe police graft allegations: ANC
The ANC said the ad hoc committee’s role is more fact-finding and inquisitorial, and the committee should refer to it as such.
Picture: @MYANC/X
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) said Parliament’s ad hoc committee does not have the power to investigate allegations of police corruption and has recommended changes to the committee’s terms of reference.
The ANC said the ad hoc committee’s role is more fact-finding and inquisitorial, and the committee should refer to it as such.
Political parties were making submissions on the committee’s draft terms of reference that will guide the work the committee is doing.
Members of the committee finally got into making their inputs on the terms of reference to be used by the committee, from the scope of the work to which witnesses to call to give evidence.
On the scope of the work, the committee will also zoom in on interference within the police, looking at executive oversight versus operational interference by people like suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
But the ANC’s Khusela Sangoni said the terms of reference must clarify that the ad committee does not have the power to investigate anyone.
“The word investigate raises some questions. Our understanding is that this process is inquisitorial in nature, it’s fact-finding, but the powers to investigate in the lawful interpretation of the word investigate lie with other institutions of state.”
The committee failed to agree and adopt the terms of reference on Wednesday, and will do so next week before it starts calling in witnesses.