Parly committee members probing police graft clash over Phala Phala report inclusion

Members of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption have clashed over the Phala Phala robbery scandal and whether it should be included in the committee's discussions.

The MK Party questioned Police Minister Senzo Mchunu about the classification of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)'s report into the robbery and his powers, if any, to declassify it.

However, other parties objected to the matter being discussed before the committee, arguing that it is not part of the terms of reference and has nothing to do with Mchunu.

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Earlier during his testimony, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi raised concerns about Minister Mchunu’s involvement in classifying as "top secret" the IPID’s report on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm scandal.

On Wednesday, the matter was brought up again by the MK Party’s David Skosana, who asked Mchunu why the report is classified. African National Congress (ANC) member of Parliament (MP) Khusela Sangoni Diko then questioned Mchunu on whether the MK Party should direct their question to IPID, not the minister.

"So, I would be correct then, based on what you said, if I was to advise Honourable Skosana that if he’s looking for information about an IPID report that does not investigate the president, despite his repeated assurances, he has to approach IPID for the declassification," Sangoni Diko stated.

But Skosana maintained that the matter is still relevant even before the Ad Hoc Committee.

"I don’t belong to any factions of the ANC. I know it’s a very sensitive matter for the minister, and I feel pity for the Honourable Sangoni Diko, because we’re still going to ask the Minister here," Skosana responded.

Mchunu said it was IPID who classified the Phala Phala report independently of the minister because there were other parallel investigations into the matter.