National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has started giving evidence before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which is probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July.

The committee was established to probe Mkhwanazi’s wide-ranging allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the criminal justice system.

Masemola is the second witness to appear before the Committee.

Evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse outlined Masemola’s statement. “Can you just confirm that this is your statement that you made to the evidence leaders in your consultations that you’ve had with us?”

Masemola: “Honourable Chair, I do confirm that it is my statement I made with the evidence leaders. Thank you.”

Evidence leader: “Just in terms of the structure and the approach that I intend to adopt, we’re going to look at some background matter, just to briefly put that on record. I then want to pause and just look at the structure of the SAPS and the constitutional responsibilities, especially between yourself and the minister, that is in the affidavit.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi called on Parliament to probe forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan.

In a response to questions from Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema, Mkhwanazi said he was told by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, that operations of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) were planned, coordinated and executed at O’Sullivan’s house.

“I’m saying this to the members, it is there, at which Mr Nkabinde, who is now a chief of staff at the office, that operations of IPID were planned, coordinated, and executed at Paul O’Sullivan’s house, that was his words to me. So I’m going to request … I am to require such be investigated in detail.”

“Because the phone will put McBride in this place, put Paul O’Sullivan in this place, Nkabinde in this place and others. When that investigation is concluded, nobody can deny it because we will know exactly all of them were operating, guided by Paul O’Sullivan.”