Parliament to seek legal advice on DA MP's role in police probe

Members of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption have once again voiced their concerns over Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Dianne Kohler Barnard’s participation, citing a perceived conflict of interest.

Kohler Barnard had previously stepped back from proceedings involving witnesses after KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused her of mishandling classified information.

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However, the DA has since provided a legal opinion stating that Mkhwanazi’s claims do not constitute a conflict.

African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli subsequently called for legal advice on the implications should Kohler Barnard be called as a witness in the future.

“Even with that concern we are raising, you proceed and allow her to participate and advise tomorrow through legal division of Parliament what are the implications of that when we later decide that she must become a witness,” Ntuli said.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema agreed that only an official legal opinion would resolve the committee’s dilemma.

“Once you say there's no opinion that speaks against her, we are back to where we were. We have no right to remove any member until that opinion comes,” Malema stated.