MPs clash with De Haas over her refusal to name her sources

Members of a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating police corruption clashed with witness Mary de Haas on Tuesday after she refused to reveal the names of her sources, even in a private session.

Members of Parliament (MPs) grew increasingly frustrated with the University of KwaZulu-Natal academic. De Haas provided the committee with information she received from confidential sources but declined to divulge their names.

De Haas is giving evidence before the ad hoc committee following witness testimony that she influenced Minister Senzo Mchunu’s decision to issue the directive to disband the political killing task team (PKTT).

In her evidence on Tuesday, De Haas alleged that the PKTT had abused its powers and fabricated evidence.

She maintained that some of the information related to intelligence came from confidential sources, whose identities she would not reveal.

De Haas argued that the Madlanga Commission was better positioned to interrogate the information because it possessed the necessary expertise, which Parliament lacks.

She justified her refusal to name sources with a direct statement:

"I cannot reveal a source of somebody who might get killed for telling me."

This refusal led to angry responses from committee members, who accused her of undermining Parliament.

MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo voiced his strong disapproval: "What we have noted here is the highest level of arrogance. Arrogance of high note, and there’s an attempt to reduce the credibility of this committee as we’re a subordinate of a certain commission of inquiry."

However, ActionSA MP and committee member Dereleen James took a different stance, stating she did not see what value De Haas’s sources would add. James said she only wished to know De Haas's reasons for calling for the PKTT to be disbanded.