Mkhwanazi first to appear before Parliament committee probing allegations of police graft

CAPE TOWN - Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption has unanimously adopted its terms of reference, paving the way for the questioning of witnesses.

The ad hoc committee adopted the terms of reference that will guide how it conducts its inquiry after lengthy delays due to disagreements between parties on what should be included.

The committee met on Friday to finalise the terms of reference, including the use of an external legal expert or senior counsel to assist the investigation.

The committee adopted the terms of reference after failing to finalise them in its last two meetings.

The terms of reference will cover which witnesses must be invited, legal assistance for witnesses, as well as the scope and format of the enquiry.

Committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, said the first order of business will be inviting the police as the first witnesses.

“The first institution that must appear before the committee will be the SAPS [South African Police Service] and the first person in the SAPS will be General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.”

Lekganyane said Mkhwanazi will be followed by national Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola as the accounting head and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.