Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee wants police top leadership to make the first appearance as witnesses

CAPE TOWN - Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating corruption in the criminal justice system wants the police’s top leadership to make the first appearance as witnesses when it starts its inquiry.

Parties in the Ad Hoc Committee adopted the terms of reference unanimously on Friday, paving the way for MPs to start their investigation into allegations made by KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The committee will now start the process of and make contact with police senior management, including national commissioner Fannie Masemola to make submissions.

The Ad Hoc Committee adopted the terms of reference that will guide how the committee conducts its inquiry, after delays due to disagreements between parties on the finer details.

Parties disagreed on how classified information will be handled as well as the use of an external legal expert.

But after adopting the terms of reference, committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, said Mkhwanazi and minister on special leave Senzo Mchunu must be the first to give evidence.

"The first institution that will appear before the committee will be the saps. And the first person in the saps will be general Mkhwanazi and then another four, which is general Fannie Masemola who is the accounting head, the minister who was there which is minister Mchunu," said Lekganyane.

The committee will now write to the identified witnesses who must first make written submissions to the committee at least seven days before they appear.