MK's Van Rooyen calls for special protection for MPs serving on Parly committee probing police corruption

MK Party parliamentarian Des van Rooyen is calling for special protection for members of Parliament (MPs) serving on the parliamentary ad hoc committee probing corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Van Rooyen made the call earlier on Thursday outside the Cape Town Police Station, where his party laid a criminal complaint against one of the committee’s witnesses, Mary de Haas, who appeared before it last week.

The MK Party alleges that De Haas misrepresented her academic qualifications, misleading the committee into believing she holds an academic doctorate.

Despite there being no known threats made against any of the committee members, Van Rooyen claims Parliament is not taking the safety of MPs seriously. He specifically stated that the SAPS cannot be trusted to provide the necessary security.

"It’s the very same SAPS, senior officers of SAPS are implicated, in this matter. So we are calling for a special security provision dispensation to cater for all the members of the ad hoc committee.”

The ad hoc committee is currently itting at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria, where it is questioning businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, who is awaiting trial there on attempted murder charges.

Van Rooyen pointed to an alleged threateningtext message sent to another witness, Cedric Nkabinde, last week, as evidence supporting the party’s view that security for MPs is necessary.

On Thursday, the party also laid a complaint against forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan for allegedly sending that message to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff.

"It was clear from the word go that they would be dealing with sophisticated criminal syndicates. For them to just be left on their own or to normal processes of provision of security by Parliament is not adequate."