‘My Life Is At Risk’: Paul O’Sullivan Refuses To Face Parliament’s Ad Hoc committee Over Threat Claims

Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan has refused to appear in person before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, claiming that statements made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have placed his life in danger.

O’Sullivan has instead submitted a formal request to testify virtually, citing what he describes as credible threats against him.

O’Sullivan Says Commissioner’s Words Amount to Incitement

The standoff follows explosive claims made by Mkhwanazi during his appearance before the ad hoc committee, where he alleged that O’Sullivan had close ties to former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride.

Mkhwanazi further claimed that O’Sullivan exerted excessive influence within the criminal justice system and suggested that some IPID operations were planned.

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In a letter to Parliament, he quoted Mkhwanazi as saying: “But, it is time that this country must not sit back and be run by Paul O’Sullivan. And if government fails to act on it, the men and women in this country are going to take it upon themselves to do something drastic about it.”

O’Sullivan said the remarks amounted to an incitement to violence and accused Parliament of failing to caution the police commissioner that such statements could constitute a criminal offence.

He told the committee that he had received “credible intelligence of a very real threat to murder me, no doubt inspired by Mkhwanazi and his criminal friends in the MK party and the police”.

He argued that appearing in person would put him at unacceptable risk and that Parliament should take responsibility for ensuring the safety of witnesses.

Fears Heightened After Madlanga Commission Witness Killed

O’Sullivan’s request comes amid heightened concern following the killing of Marius van der Merwe, a witness at the Madlanga Commission, who was shot dead outside his home in Brakpan in December.

Van der Merwe had testified about alleged corruption within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department and implicated suspended senior officer Julius Mkhwanazi in criminal activity.

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O’Sullivan and Mkhwanazi have been trading allegations for months, culminating in a R5 million defamation lawsuit filed by Mkhwanazi in September. O’Sullivan responded with a counterclaim of R10 million.

He has accused the police commissioner of making false and defamatory statements about him at both the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary ad hoc committee.

The forensic investigator has been involved in numerous high-profile cases over the years, particularly those involving senior police officials and alleged corruption within the Crime Intelligence division.

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