Chairperson of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, Soviet Lekganyane.
Image: Zwelethemba Kostile / ParliamentofRSA
Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will return to in-person sitting for two days next week, as the committee aims to finalise its report.
The committee had been meeting virtually over the last couple of months while moving towards the finalisation and the adoption of the report in its investigation.
Content advisor to the committee, Nicolette van Zyl-Gous, went through the executive summary of the draft preliminary report ahead of next week’s deliberations.
She highlighted some of the inputs from the committee members, which should help them finalise the draft report.
Committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, said: “We have a draft preliminary document that has been completed, which incorporates the input that members would have made.
“What is going to happen, moving forward, is that those members who would not have submitted their inputs will be given a chance (next week), where they may want to make submissions.
“So today, the meeting has been called to launch the draft preliminary report that incorporates those inputs formally.”
He proposed that the committee come back to Cape Town next week, Tuesday and Wednesday, to deliberate on the report and finalise it.
“And thereafter, hand it back over to the committee secretariat, to circulate it with the witnesses that would have appeared before us for a period of 10 days. The committee will then come back after 10 days to finally adopt a report.”
Committee members accepted the proposal to appear in person next week to finalise the draft.
Van Zyl-Gous explained that the purpose of the draft preliminary document is not to revisit the substance of the party submissions, but rather to provide a transparent record of how those submissions were considered and reflected in the evolving report.
“It identifies where specific inputs have been incorporated, partially incorporated, addressed through existing provisions of the report, or not incorporated, together with brief explanations where appropriate. The document should be read together with the relevant party submissions, the evidentiary record, the committee's deliberations, and the latest version of the draft report.”
Some of the committee inputs touched on specialised units, docket control, case continuity management, crime intelligence, governance reform, leadership accountability, integrity, procurement governance, organised crime infiltration, and operational coordination.
“So, to highlight the common themes across the submissions by parties, include a stronger evidence assessment and analysis… We really focused more on the assessment and analysis of the evidence, diving a bit deeper into the evidence, and what came out of the discussions,” Van Zyl-Gous said.
“(Included is) closer scrutiny of the 31st December 2024 directive, and this includes all three components of the directive; namely, the Political Killings Task-Team, moratorium on appointments, and also the challenges experienced at the ports of entry.
“Then also, a common theme is governance and leadership failures, ministerial accountability, crime intelligence reform,” Van Zyl-Gous said.
Lekganyane also encouraged committee members to engage on the preliminary draft with each other to help them avoid spending time unnecessarily on matters upon which they already agree.
“I think this is what will bring you closer to one another, where you can engage and say, ‘Here, this is how we can formulate the proposition’... but everything in the process that we do, it must be how best we can reform the criminal justice system in the country,” Lekganyane said.
He said the contributions the committee makes should be far-reaching and have an eternal impact on the criminal justice system.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s Members of Parliament, Thulani Shongwe, (left) and Sibonelo Nomvalo.
Image: Parliament RSA / Supplied
The committee also heard that the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MK Party) Thulani Shongwe will be appearing before the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday.
“I'll be attending the Madlanga Commission on the 30th. They gave me a date yesterday (Tuesday) to avail myself on that date. So, I apologise in advance,” Shongwe said.
His fellow MP, David Skosana, said that some MK Party members had planned to attend in solidarity with Shongwe.
“Because we didn't want to give him (over) alone, because remember, we are together in this issue of General (Feroz) Khan.”
Lekganyane said that they would discuss the matter and details privately.
The Madlanga Commission is currently examining data recovered from Khan's seized electronic devices after he withdrew court applications aimed at blocking investigators from accessing them.
Investigators are also reviewing WhatsApp communications involving Khan, EFF leader Julius Malema, and businessman Mohammad Sayed.
Khan is expected to appear before the commission on July 1.