The Ad Hoc Committee inquiring into the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi unanimously adopted the terms of reference on Friday.

This was after discussion on the amendments by all the parties represented in the committee, after a draft document was revised by the committee’s technical team.

“The terms of reference for this Ad Hoc Committee have been unanimously accepted and adopted,” said committee Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane.

Lekganyane applauded the MPs for the work done and being on top of the game across all parties.

“If this is the spirit of how we are going to drive proceedings, we will achieve wonders. This is very excellent. It was outstanding,” he said.

“The work has been done very, very brilliantly, and for that, I want to thank you so much,” Lekganyane said.

Regarding the draft programme for the upcoming proceedings, Lekganyane said they have the dilemma of deciding on the actual dates on which the witnesses will have to appear.

“No contact has been made with General Mkhwanazi or either of the witnesses that may have to come and appear before the committee. So the draft programme essentially takes an institutional approach, which will then mean that the first institution that will appear before the committee will be the SAPS,” he said.

Lekganyane also said the first person in the SAPS to appear will be Mkhwanazi, followed by National Commissioner Fannie Masemola, his deputy Shadrack Sibiya, Minister Senzo Mchunu, acting Minister Firoz Cachalia, and deputy ministers Polly Boshielo and Cassel Mathale.

The committee will then organise the list of other witnesses.

“We will take those institutions and witnesses one by one until we are finished. So what the technical team is proposing before this committee is for the committee to note this draft programme.”

Lekganyane said the technical team will initiate contact with the witnesses, and once they have confirmation of when Mkhwanazi was going to come, the committee will accordingly be informed of the date he is available.

ANC MP Xola Nqola said the technical team must be allowed to do its work.

“We must ensure that we start immediately because I think our time is running off as the Ad Hoc Committee, but we also propose that, when the draft programme is fully ready, can it also be shared to political parties to look at it so that we’re able to enhance where possible or where necessary,” Nqola said.

He suggested that the technical team must have addressed all the procedural issues at the end of August, so that by the beginning of September, the actual start of the inquiry begins to adduce evidence and testimonies of witnesses.

MK Party MP David Skosana said former police Bheki Cele should be called as one of the witnesses.

“I think there is an omission of former minister Bheki Cele because you have mentioned the current one as well,” said Skosana.

He was hopeful that the inquiry would help all South Africans to get the status of the South African Police Service and the state security in general, and whether they are safe as a country.

DA MP Diane Barnard Kohler said the proposal was clear and that the staff will probably be ready.

“It all depends on the availability of General Mkhwanazi. Hopefully, he will be available sooner rather than later,” she said.

Lekganyane said Cele’s name will be added to the list of witnesses and that the committee will determine how those witnesses are going to appear before it.

He reminded the MPs that they carry the responsibility to make the work of the committee to do its work with ease and expeditiously.

“If there is any suggestion or any advice that can help the committee to do its work with ease and expeditiously, honourable members are always invited to make such suggestions.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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