Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi set to testify in parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will take the stand on Tuesday to address serious allegations he made during a July media briefing.

Mkhwanazi and National Commissioner Fannie Masemola will form part of the first batch of witnesses to give testimony next week.

Mkhwanazi’s appearance before the Ad Hoc Committee was announced by the committee Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, at a meeting on Friday.

“On October 7, Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi appears before us,” Lekganyane said.

This follows the committee's previous indication that Mkhwanazi would give his testimony on September 22, upon concluding consultation with evidence leaders on September 17, once done with the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

His appearance will take place amid the adjournment of the Madlanga Commission until October 13, after Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo was unable to continue with his testimony on Thursday due to illness.

The commission is taking a break next week because Sesi Baloyi will be attending her duties as a member of the Judicial Services Commission.

Evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse, SC, noted that Mkhwanazi’s statement has been shared with committee members, albeit delayed by missing documents.

“We still fall within the three or four-day period to make the statement available to the committee,” Arendse said.

The evidence leaders were scheduled to meet Masemola on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning to go through his statement.

“His statement will be available on Saturday or Sunday,” he said about Masemola.

Arendse requested that the MPs refrain from sharing the statements with the media and third parties.

“We need to emphasise that when we make these statements available to the members, they are under embargo and are confidential. Members are not allowed to make any disclosure until we have led evidence.”

Outlining proceedings for Tuesday, Arendse said Lekganyane will explain the purpose of the inquiry and introduce the committee.

“I will make an opening statement and we will proceed to call the first witness, General Mkhwanazi,” he said.

Upon taking the stand, Lekganyane will administer an oath or affirmation on Mkhwanazi before Arendse leads and examines the evidence.

“On the second day, members will have an opportunity to ask questions of the witness. Thereafter, subject to your discretion, chairperson, we may ask an opportunity to again re-examine the witness if there are any issues we feel we should traverse with the witness concerned.”

He clarified that Mkhwanazi will be examined based on certain topics and that he did not intend to invite him to read paragraphs of his affidavit.

“It will be somewhat different from the procedure adopted when General Mkhwanazi gave evidence to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry,” said Arendse, adding that the parliamentary inquiry has its own terms of reference.

“We will have further consultation with General Mkhwanazi on Monday to discuss some of these differences with him so that he is not caught by surprise,” he said.

Arendse stated that since there will be occasions during Mkhwanazi’s testimony that he will put a version to him from other witnesses, who have already been interviewed and will give evidence, for his comment.

“We tried to avoid repetition … There are a number of material differences. There are some new matters referred to in the statement.”

Arendse also said Masemola will give his testimony on Thursday, followed by his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, former minister Bheki Cele, Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia, and the two deputy ministers the following week.

He stated that once Mkhwanazi and the first batch of witnesses were done with their testimonies, the committee would decide on any other witnesses to be called.

“That is up to the committee to decide, and if our advice or guidance is sought, we will do that,” Arendse said.

Meanwhile, Parliament’s Chief of Security Samson Shitlabane said security measures have been put in place ahead of the start of the inquiry.

“We are able to say we are ready to resume in terms of security arrangements with the Ad Hoc Committee in terms of the venue at Good Hope Chamber. It is already a secured venue,” Shitlabane said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za