The uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) Sibonelo Nomvalo has said that Paul O’Sullivan does not respect anyone in South Africa, including Parliament.

Nomvalo was speaking on the sidelines of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, where they heard presentations from civil groups, which he said “were irrelevant and out of context”. 

Accountability Now and the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) made presentations at the Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, where they appeared not as witnesses, but to give insights into the criminal justice system and make recommendations.

The decision for their appearance before the committee came from the public submissions that were made to the committee.

“I think it was off context because we must remember we’re not a portfolio committee on justice. We’re not a constitutional review committee which accepts public submissions, which seek to influence policy reforms or legislative reforms,” Nomvalo said.

“What has happened is that the first presentation we got was an attempt to lobby us to a particular policy perspective. That’s peripheral with regards to our terms of reference.

“I thought the presentation might at least say, within these terms of reference, we think that some of the wrongdoings or allegations of wrongdoings rather have been perpetuated by these policy deficiencies, and consequently, this is what we recommend as a solution there too. So that was my expectation. 

“It was not helpful at all. We shouldn’t lie. It was not. That’s what I can say,” Nomvalo said.

The issue surrounding the delay of the appearance of forensic consultant Paul O’Sullivan reared its head again. Speaking on the sidelines of the hearings, the ANC’s Khusela Sangoni-Diko said that the committee has been unanimous on its position. 

“I think you’ll remember it was the African National Congress who had raised this matter, in the committee, to say that we will not tolerate a situation where a witness wants to dictate to us how, when, and where he wants to appear. 

“Our terms of reference have been very clear that this committee will have in-person hearings and only in extraordinary circumstances would we consider (going) virtual,” Sangoni-Diko said.

“It does not guarantee approval for a virtual hearing. It says it would be considered. The matter has been considered by the committee, and we have rejected a request from Mr O’Sullivan to speak virtually. 

“Now, what we have said as a committee is that given the very tight time frame that we’ve got toward the end of this process, we will work towards subpoenaing Mr Sullivan. We believe his circumstances are designed. They’re man-made. 

“He’s really undermining the committee, and if you look at some of the correspondence that he has sent through, you get a sense that you’re dealing with a very recalcitrant person,” she said.

“A lot of members of the committee have expressed what they think is his disdain for the committee, calling it an expression of white supremacy, and our views are not far from that. 

“Should he not appear by the time we conclude these hearings, then we are of the view that we will wait,” Sangoni-Diko said.

Nomvalo added that they have found his behaviour worrisome. 

“The virtual hearing thing… It’s a defiance of high note. Paul O’Sullivan does not respect anyone in South Africa. He does not respect Parliament, he does not respect the executive, even his friends; he doesn’t respect them. His conduct in its entirety is worrisome.

“It’s the conduct of an individual who has a self-exaggerated importance and dominance in South Africa, and I think that has been triggered by the leeway that he has been getting from all these networks under which he was benefiting,” Nomvalo said.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

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