Mkhwanazi To Close Chapter On Criminal Justice Corruption Inquiry As Parliamentary Hearings Conclude

The parliamentary ad hoc committee probing allegations of corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system is set to bring its public hearings to a close this week.

KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will return to deliver his final testimony, marking the closing stage of the inquiry’s evidence-gathering process.

The investigation was launched after Mkhwanazi made dramatic allegations during a press briefing on 6 July last year. During the now widely discussed briefing, he implicated several senior figures in the public service, including Minister on special leave Senzo Mchunu and suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza moved swiftly to establish the parliamentary committee only days after those revelations were made public.

High-Profile Witnesses Testify In Parliamentary Corruption Inquiry

Since its first hearing on 7 October last year, the committee has heard from several prominent witnesses connected to the allegations.

Mkhwanazi was the first to present oral evidence when proceedings began.

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele also appeared before the committee. His testimony addressed claims that he received two separate payments totalling R500,000 from alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Another key figure to testify was Cedric Nkabinde, chief of staff to Mchunu. He faces accusations of interfering with police operations and allegedly supporting the disbandment of the political killings task team.

Former head of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Robert McBride, was also drawn into the inquiry. Allegations presented to the committee claimed he targeted former acting national police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane in an attempt to prevent his appointment as national commissioner.

Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan was questioned extensively during the hearings about alleged criminal interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS). Proceedings took a dramatic turn when O’Sullivan left the session abruptly, after which the committee laid criminal charges against him for contempt of Parliament.

Final Testimony And Evidence As Committee Nears End Of Hearings

Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane confirmed that the inquiry will conclude its witness hearings this week.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola is scheduled to appear before the committee on Tuesday at 10:00.

“General Masemola is coming here next week, Tuesday at 10 o’clock,” Lekganyane stated.

Mkhwanazi will then return on Wednesday to deliver his final submission, effectively closing the evidence phase of the parliamentary investigation.

Draft Report Process Begins As Inquiry Moves To Next Phase

After the final testimony, the committee will turn its attention to compiling a comprehensive draft report covering all evidence presented during the hearings.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected to submit a written response on Monday ahead of Masemola’s appearance.

Technical team member Christine Silkestone confirmed during a housekeeping meeting last week that drafting work on the report has already started and is being updated continuously as new evidence is presented.

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“The report will be descriptive and organisational,” Silkestone explained. “Although it is analytical, it doesn’t address the credibility of any of the evidence that was presented or try to evaluate the evidence from that perspective.”

The final document will strictly follow the committee’s terms of reference. Once completed, the report will go through an adoption process expected to take several weeks before it is presented to the National Assembly together with formal recommendations.