What’s next for ad hoc committee probing allegations of police corruption?

Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing allegations of police corruption is set to map out the final weeks of its programme on Wednesday after adjourning oral hearings in November last year.

The committee is on a tight deadline to conclude its business by the end of February after being granted an extension by the national assembly.

It adjourned last year after hearing oral evidence from murder-accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala at the Kgosi Mampuru prison about how he secured healthcare tenders from the police and allegedly made cash payments to former police minister Bheki Cele.

Following explosive allegations of police corruption and the questionable disbandment of a political killings task team, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi set the scene for the ad hoc committee’s work.

Mkhwanazi and his boss, police commissioner Fannie Masemola, were among the first witnesses in parliament last year.

Former police minister Bheki Cele, suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and acting police minister Firoz Cachaliahave also already taken the hot seat.

Besides finalising its remaining witnesses, the committee will also have to determine how to handle complaints against forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan.

He is alleged to have sent threatening messages to Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, during a dinner break while Nkabinde was testifying in parliament.

Nkabinde alleged influence and interference on the part of O’Sullivan within the police and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).