Public participation process valuable but also a 'mixed bag' for Parliament's Ad Hoc committee

While the process of public participation has been valuable and important, it has also been a “mixed bag” for Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, said ANC’s Khusela Sangoni-Diko.

Wednesday saw Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, conclude the public participation with the testimony of witnesses, Ms Pheladi Matjaola, Col Darius Ramolobe, Capt Edwin Malatjie and Capt Samuel Ramalepe.

Speaking on the sidelines of the committee hearings, Sangoni-Diko said that the process has been very important as it speaks to the core mandate of Parliament, “which is about giving a voice to the people”. 

“When we started this process, we indicated that, as much as we would have, you know, members of the judiciary, the police, we had hoped that we'd also get the prosecution authority, which we did. 

“This issue of crime, corruption, and factionalism in the criminal justice system affects the ordinary men on the street, and that's why they had to be here,” she said.

“In terms of the presentations themselves, it's been a mixed bag in the sense that you've had members of the public who come here, and generally, there are labour issues - it's grievances that they've got against, perhaps senior police officers and things of that nature. 

“We are not discarding them. In terms of process, we may need to take another approach, and maybe refer them to the relevant portfolio committee, or to CCMA and things of that nature,” Sangoni-Diko said.

“There's also been presentations that spoke to the real substance of what we're dealing with. Yesterday, we heard the testimony of Mr Pilasande Dotyeni, who spoke about what he believes was a cover-up of Lieutenant General Sindile Mfazi.

“As the African National Congress, we definitely will be taking that matter up. Obviously, that particular report speaks to what could be a systematic cover-up of certain things - procurement regularities and such within SAPS,” she said.

Speaking of the testimonies of whistleblowers, Miss Patricia Mashale and Miss Mary De Haass before her, Sangoni-Diko said that despite some holes in their testimonies, it's been important that they also listen to people who are whistleblowers and what they think needs to be done to strengthen the system, so that more people can come forward. 

“More people can report when they see things. I mean, we always say, say something, do something, you know. Let's not sweep these things under the carpet.

“We think this process has definitely been very valuable, but we're in the last lap now of this at a committee. We are awaiting, obviously, a few witnesses to still come forward, the likes of Mr Paul Sullivan, Ms Sarah Jane Trent, Mr Brown Mogotsi, General Phahlane, and then our final witness will be General Mkhwanazi. 

“We're also waiting to speak to some of our colleagues who were implicated by General Mkhwanazi, in this instance, Honourable Dianne Kohler Barnard, as well as Honourable Fadiel Adams.

“I think we'll be in a good place to then consolidate our report that we expect to take a bit of time as well. 

“It’s been a valuable process, and a tiring process, but it's going well,” Sangoni-Diko said.

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