Ad Hoc Committee Evidence Leader Advocate Norman Arendse has accused ex-Crime Intelligence’s Secret Service Account head of finance and administration, Tiyani Lincoln Hlungwani, of ambushing the inquiry with an affidavit filled with serious allegations hours before his testimony on Thursday.

Arendse said Hlungwani initially sent a brief email in September 2025, focusing almost only on former Crime Intelligence head Peter Jacobs.

Hlungwani had not wanted to be a witness but rather to counter Jacobs, who was not earmarked to give testimony at the time.

“I thought that would be the end of it,” remarked Arendse.

“But you submitted an affidavit, second only to (former acting national commissioner Khomotso) Phahlane’s 161-page affidavit,” he said.

The inquiry received the affidavit on Wednesday morning, mere hours before he began his testimony.

Arendse told the inquiry that he had grossly underestimated the time they were to spend with Hlungwani on his testimony, which spanned over two days.

He stated that the allegations outlined in the affidavit have far-reaching implications.

“What is disappointing is that the persons you implicate in your affidavit include, of course, General Jacobs, two judges you mentioned, General Sitole, General Khumalo, General Mkhwanazi, General Phahlane, and a host of people.”

Arendse said what was disappointing was that many of the allegations were not new and had been within Hlungwani’s knowledge since September.

“You never presented to us, as evidence leaders, the possibility of being called as a witness due to the serious allegations you make,” said Arendse.

In response, Hlungwani said he had been unsure about submitting an affidavit.

“It took a bit of time to really draft this long affidavit,” he said.

Hlungwani indicated that he has over 500 pages of documents he intended to submit to the committee.

“I did not have the resources to scan and submit the supporting documents, hence the affidavit came like this, and it has references,” he said.

Arendse said the disappointing thing was that the people Hlungwani mentioned, especially Khumalo and Mkhwanazi, the key figures in the whole inquiry, never had the opportunity of considering what he had to say, though he had knowledge of the allegations since September.

“We are now at the tail end, and you make these allegations against them,” he added.

According to Hlungwani, if Parliament was not ready for him to testify, it should have told him to wait and engaged on the matter.

“So I was called to come as part of those who are to submit public submissions.”

Despite Hlungwani’s contention, Arendse said his role as a witness was predicated on the initial email, not the affidavit he chose to present.

“If you had indicated that you needed legal assistance, we would have consulted with you in view of the serious allegations you make.

“At least we would have been aware of the allegations, put them to the people you implicate, and it is unacceptable, in fact, you have in effect ambushed us with an affidavit containing serious allegations.”

He also said they now have to make further inquiries and try to find some evidence of the allegations.

Arendse mentioned that they found evidence related to two court cases involving Phahlane and others.

“It has been difficult to track or to find other evidence or information that supports or corroborates or substantiates what you allege in the affidavit.”

He also stated that the charge sheet, in the listening device case where he claimed there was corruption, showed that he had approved the amounts for the contract.

“You said there was enough money available. That is what the charge sheet says and alleges,” said Arendse.

However, Hlungwani said they had believed the transaction was legitimate at the time.

“What happened? I discovered that the quotes that were provided were actually cover quotes. An investigation was instituted to substantiate such, and there was proof of prima facie evidence,” he said about the case he will be a witness to late this year.

He said he had been called in, like in any other transactions conducted in the Secret Services Account, on all the major transactions to determine whether there were funds available.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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