Political parties deadlocked over terms of reference in Parly's ad hoc committee probing police corruption

CAPE TOWN - Political parties remain deadlocked over the terms of reference in Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption, with disagreements over the use of external legal counsel.

Members have also clashed over the widening of the scope of the committee’s investigation to include questioning labour unions in the police and amending its terms of reference.

Parties represented in the committee debated the various submissions made by members on what should be included in the final terms of reference on Monday.

ALSO READ:

• EFF concerned about terms of reference guiding Parliament’s police corruption probe

• There are no cases of political influence against prosecutors & investigators, Kubayi tells Parly

• Malema wants Parly's ad hoc committee probing police corruption to summon prisoners with relevant info

The ad hoc committee met on Monday to continue deliberations on the terms of reference that will guide the committee’s inquiry.

But parties disagreed on several issues, including on the use of external counsel.

African National Congress (ANC) MP Xola Nqola said the committee should make use of Parliament’s legal advisors to save costs.

"We must not utilise the services of external legal practitioners but rather utilise the services of the parliamentary legal and constitutional services."

But the MK Party’s Sibonelo Nomvalo said they don’t have faith in Parliament’s legal advisors.

"The internal legal team has demonstrated on numerous occasions that they lack capacity to a certain extent. We have expressed our concerns here on the quality of work that they give this committee."

Parties will first have to find consensus on the terms of reference before they can proceed with the inquiry.