Some parties on Parly committee probing police corruption call on Kohler Barnard to recuse herself

Some parties on Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption have called on Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Dianne Kohler Barnard to recuse herself from the committee due to a conflict of interest.

They said Kohler Barnard, an alternate member of the ad hoc committee with no voting rights, was accused by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of mishandling classified intelligence information during his Madlanga Commission testimony last week.

While Kohler Barnard has dismissed the allegations, the members said she should step aside and appear as a witness instead.

Kohler Barnard and National Coloured Congress (NCC)'s Fadiel Adams were named by Mkhwanazi during his Madlanga Commission testimony, accusing them of being reckless with classified information.

Mkhwanazi said Kohler Barnard went public with classified information that fuelled attacks against Crime Intelligence.

African National Congress (ANC) MP and committee member Xola Nqola said her recusal should be voluntary.

"For purposes of the integrity of the proceedings of this ad hoc committee, recuse honourable Barnard and replace her with someone else."

But DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach defended Kohler Barnard, saying there’s no evidence of a conflict.

"Currently, there is no evidence of a conflict except what Mkhwanazi said."

She said the committee must first speak to Mkhwanazi about the specific issue before it makes a decision on Kohler Barnard’s recusal.

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• Parly committee probing police corruption considers calling MPs mentioned by Mkhwanazi as witnesses

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