Parliament’s portfolio committee on police and the portfolio committee on justice and constitutional development on Tuesday adopted the draft report on the request to investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The report recommends the establishment of an ad hoc committee under National Assembly rules.
The decision follows a directive from the speaker of the National Assembly. In a joint statement, chairpersons Ian Cameron and Xola Nqola said: “The rationale for this option is that the scope of such a committee is specific and time-bound.”
They added that the structure would allow parliament to remain directly involved in the oversight process.
The committees rejected alternative mechanisms, including a full investigative inquiry under the Powers and Privileges Act and the use of conferring powers under rule 169.
The adopted report emphasises the urgency of the matter and the need to reach findings on the allegations to protect the integrity of the criminal justice system.
The committees noted the importance of avoiding duplication with the presidential commission of inquiry and called for continuous oversight and access to interim reports submitted to the president.
The report will be submitted to the National Assembly for formal consideration.
During the meeting, several members of the MK party reserved their position on the adoption of the report.
MP Mzwanele Manyi said that was because they didn’t know what the report would look like.
“This is like an ‘adopting in good faith’ kind of situation…. we want to reserve our position in terms of the adoption,” Manyi said.
The committees are expected to present the report to parliament in due course.
Once constituted, the ad hoc committee will conduct a preliminary assessment, consider processes already initiated by the executive and formulate recommendations for parliamentary action.
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