A senior legal official within the South African Police Service (SAPS) has stated that Parliament failed in its oversight duties by not acting on serious allegations of political interference and corruption when they were first raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in March.
According to the SAPS legal division, if Parliament had initiated an investigation or summoned police management to explain the claims at the time, it would have constituted proper oversight. Instead, the matter was left unattended for months.
The situation escalated dramatically in July when Mkhwanazi held a startling media briefing, directly accusing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya of being behind the unlawful disbandment of the specialized Political Killings Task Team. This forced Parliament’s hand, leading to the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the claims.
However, the investigation is now mired in conflict. Mkhwanazi’s availability to testify before the parliamentary committee has become a point of contention. He stated he could only appear after fulfilling his testimony at the separate Madlanga Commission of Inquiry last week, a delay that infuriated MPs.
EFF leader Julius Malema led the charge against what he perceived as defiance, declaring, “We are not going to be told by Mkhwanazi what must happen… He’s the one who started this mess and he’s going to have to take responsibility.” Malema and other committee members are pushing to subpoena the commissioner to force his appearance.
The committee is now under significant pressure, with a firm deadline of October 31 to present its findings to the National Assembly. The accusation of initial parliamentary inaction, combined with the current standoff, raises serious questions about the ability to uncover the truth in time.
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