MPs split on use of classified info before committee probing allegations of police graft

CAPE TOWN - Political parties are still not in agreement over sensitive and classified information being considered before the ad hoc committee investigating police corruption.

While some parties want access to classified information, the African National Congress (ANC) said the committee does not have the power to declassify sensitive or intelligence-related information.

Members of Parliament (MPs) debated before the ad hoc committee probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which reconvened on Friday to finalise its terms of reference to guide the inquiry.

On Friday, the ad hoc committee continued its deliberations on its terms of reference, which must be adopted before the inquiry can proceed.

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Some parties have called for classified information to form part of the inquiry and not just be processed by the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence behind closed doors.

But ANC MP Khusela Sangoni said dealing with classified information won’t be possible as stated in the terms of reference.

“Where it makes provisions or outlines what the protocol says around classified information, that cannot arise in this committee because we simply just do not have the authority or the locus standi to deal with that classified information.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Dianne Kohler Barnard said there’s no way the committee can get information declassified.

“I don’t think there’s any way for this committee to instruct that information that is classified be declassified.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said the committee must only consider classified information that will assist, adding that classified information can’t be used to cover up criminality.