Ramaphosa among 13 witnesses eyed for Parliament’s police corruption probe

Thirteen people, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, may be called to testify before Parliament's ad hoc committee looking into allegations of corruption and drug cartel activity in the police force made by KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The move follows explosive testimony from Mkhwanazi, who last week spent three days before the Madlanga Commission outlining serious allegations implicating current and former senior police and political figures.

Mkhwanazi named several individuals, including alternate ad hoc committee member Dianne Kohler Barnard and National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams, whom he accused of mishandling classified police information.

They have since denied the allegations and defended themselves.

The committee, tasked with investigating the fallout from Mkhwanazi’s revelations, will kick off its oral hearings in October. Mkhwanazi will be the first to testify.

National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, also testified before the commission, referencing Ramaphosa in relation to the disbandment of the SAPS political killings task team — a key focus of the inquiry.

Committee member, David Skosana, reportedly said Ramaphosa will be included on the list.

Also added to the possible witness list are suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, and former national police commissioner Khehla Sitole.

The final witness list is expected to be confirmed on Friday.

Parliament is expected to dig deeper into claims that criminal elements have penetrated the very institutions meant to uphold the law.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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