KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has dared the National Coloured Congress (NCC) Parliament member Fadiel Adams to do what he likes about his testimony at the Madlanga Commission and the Ad Hoc Committee.

During his testimony, Mkhwanazi testified that Adams handled classified State information recklessly.

He also said former police minister Bheki Cele had requested money from alleged organised crime boss, Vusi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Although Mkhwanazi later withdrew his testimony against Cele, saying it was an error, Adams opened a case of perjury against him.

The criminal charges were laid at Cape Town Central police station on Tuesday morning.

Adams said after the retraction was made, which was sent via SMS, MPs objected to the manner of withdrawal and demanded that Mkhwanazi return to the committee and formally retract his sworn statement, suggesting that the retraction had not been accepted.

In his affidavit, Adams said of the retracted allegations: Such statements have the potential to erode public trust in SAPS leadership and create confusion regarding official investigations. I further express concern that if such false allegations were made publicly against a minister, other persons may also be falsely accused by General Mkhwanazi without substantial evidence. 

“These false public allegations still constitute serious misconduct and possibly a criminal false accusation (defamation or defeating justice),” said Adams

Speaking to the media after launching the provincial festive season safety plan on Thursday, Mkhwanazi dared Adams to bring it on, saying he would deal with his issues at the Ad Hoc Committee, as he is going back there.

“Everyone in this country has a right to open a case against anyone who feels he or she has broken the law, police must investigate and take that to the court. The court will prosecute if it feels it has to prosecute, so I have never been afraid to be prosecuted, and I cannot be afraid now. If Mr Adams feels he must use that as a strategy to intimidate me, I am not afraid of that, and we will find each other in the right place; let it happen, he must bring it on.”

Mkhwanazi further stated that he is going back to the Ad Hoc Committee, where he will explain that what he said in July was not about him.

He said some of the information he received from the police, so he was representing the men and women in blue, so if there was an omission or mistake, it would be explained.

 In his retraction, Mkhwanazi stated that the team working on the analysis had incorrectly identified the bank account, and he apologised to Cele for ‘any inconvenience or hurt caused’.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za

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