Parliament's corruption probe hits snag as conflict of interest surfaces

Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of police corruption has hit another snag, with members being asked to recuse themselves due to a conflict of interest.

Evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse told the committee that the Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Lisa Schickerling and the MK Party’s David Skosana had both laid separate criminal complaints against Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Arendse said this poses a challenge for the committee regarding fairness, since Sibiya and Mchunu are scheduled to be the next witnesses before the committee.

However, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach informed the committee that their member has already been replaced to avoid the conflict.

“Honourable Schickerling has laid charges against the Minister some time ago. Having perused the affidavit, it makes it clear that there exists a conflict. So we have written to the Speaker this morning to withdraw her,” Breytenbach stated.