Parly committee probing police graft to hear from DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard

Democratic Alliance (DA) member of Parliament (MP) Dianne Kohler Barnard is expected to be the first member of Parliament to take the stand to give evidence before the ad hoc committee probing police corruption on Thursday.

Kohler Barnard will respond to allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that she mishandled classified information regarding Crime Intelligence.

Her evidence follows public submissions by whistleblowers and organisations that concluded on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Whistleblowers allege ‘untouchable’ Free State cabal within police ranks

One of Mkhwanazi’s allegations was directed at MPs when he accused them at his press conference and during his testimony of breaking the law.

He said Kohler-Barnard and another MP, Fadiel Adams, unlawfully disclosed classified intelligence information.

Kohler-Barnard will be the first to answer to the allegations when the committee convenes.

While Kohler Barnard has denied any wrongdoing and called on Mkhwanazi to apologise to her, she will be questioned about the information she shared.

Kohler Barnard also survived calls by the African National Congress (ANC), uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) that she recuse herself from committee as an alternate member, arguing her presence compromised the committee’s integrity.