Tensions flared in a virtual sitting of Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Thursday as members traded accusations over the terms of reference for a high-profile investigation into KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations.
The committee, chaired by ANC MP Molapi Lekganyane, is tasked with probing claims of political interference, operational sabotage, and possible collusion between state officials and organised crime within the South African Police Service (SAPS). The inquiry follows Mkhwanazi’s assertion that elements within the police and political structures may be undermining law enforcement for personal or factional gain.
Thursday’s meeting was meant to focus on a 12-page draft document compiling proposals from various political parties. Instead, it quickly spiralled into a verbal showdown after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema accused parliamentary staff of deliberately excluding his party’s contributions from the draft.
“Chair, our inputs are not there, and we are not going to allow that to continue,” Malema said in a fiery intervention. He alleged that staff had promptly included ANC inputs while ignoring those from the EFF, calling it a “clear case of partisanship.”
“What type of staff is this that is partisan? They have got our inputs, but they do not put them here. And now they act confused, but when it’s the ANC, they are not confused. We must now look disorganised because of the incompetency of parliament,” Malema charged.
Other opposition members echoed concerns about the handling of submissions, warning that perceived bias could undermine the credibility of the inquiry before it even begins.
Lekganyane attempted to calm the meeting, urging members to focus on refining the document and assuring them that all party submissions would be incorporated. He said the omissions may have been due to administrative errors rather than deliberate intent.
“This is an important investigation that must be above reproach. I will ensure the secretariat corrects any gaps so that all inputs are reflected,” he said.
The committee is expected to finalise its terms of reference in the coming week before commencing hearings. The investigation is likely to attract national attention given the gravity of Mkhwanazi’s claims, which touch on the integrity of policing and the fight against organised crime in South Africa.
If tensions in Thursday’s meeting are any indication, the road ahead for the committee could be as contentious as the allegations it seeks to probe.