Parly police inquiry: Public submissions conclude with more claims of systemic corruption

Public submissions before the ad hoc committee have concluded with more claims of systemic police corruption and failure to act.

On Wednesday, the public hearings also heard how people from the Free State are appointed to strategic positions in the police and are untouchable.

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The committee will now continue with its hearings with evidence from key witnesses like members of Parliament (MPs) Dianne Kohler Barnard and Fadiel Adams, who are also implicated.

The public submissions started last week with the evidence from organisations like the Institute for Security Studies and Accountability Now.

This week, the committee heard evidence from four witnesses, including anonymous individuals who spoke of "slush funds" and irregular appointments.

One of the last witnesses, Sekodi Ramalepe, who has served as police union rep and in the police’s forensic division told MPs that they reported the corruption but were taken from pillar to post.

“General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi referred our complaint to then Lt Gen Mgwenya and then Lt General Bonang Mgwenya referred our complaint to Lt Gen Godfrey Lebeya but there was no positive response till today.”

Another whistleblower, Patricia Mashale, called on the committee to investigate allegations of murder cover ups and corruption involving senior police and politicians.