Sibonelo Nomvalo: Witnesses could soon demand Valentine’s Day gifts, eggs and bacon

Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party Member of Parliament Sibonelo Nomvalo says witnesses who are unable to appear before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of misconduct and infiltration of the criminal justice system must provide credible evidence to substantiate their claims.

Earlier this week, IOL reported that National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza had expressed “disinclination” to grant the committee’s request for Parliament to subpoena forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and North West businessman Brown Mogotsi.

The committee, chaired by Molapi Soviet Lekganyane, has been pushing for Parliament to issue subpoenas compelling both men to appear in person and give evidence in Cape Town.

Speaking to SABC News, Nomvalo said some of the demands being made by witnesses were unreasonable.

“Brown Mogotsi must have produced a report from the police which confirms that there are security threats against him. Like I am saying, you don’t just behave like a spoiled brat because one day you are going to tell us that you want pizza, you want bacon, you want eggs, you want Parliament to buy gifts for your girlfriend for Valentine's Day.

“There must be a report from the police who are trained, who confirm that indeed there are security threats against you. What we are saying here is that the speaker is failing to assist the committee to use instruments that are at the disposal of Parliament in this context. Section 56 of the Constitution gives powers to Parliament or any committee of Parliament to summon any person to come and appear before Parliament, to adduce evidence or any information that is relevant at that particular time.”

On Tuesday, IOL reported that O’Sullivan has hit back at the MK party and Nomvalo after the lawmaker insisted that O’Sullivan must return to South Africa to testify before Parliament.

Last month, IOL reported that O’Sullivan said he was willing to testify before the committee but only virtually.

At the time, speaking to IOL from London, O’Sullivan rejected claims that he had left South Africa to avoid testifying before the committee, which has demanded that he appear in person in Cape Town.

Nomvalo said O’Sullivan was acting “like a spoiled brat”.

“An indication was shown a long time ago by Paul O’Sullivan, who has been threatening Members of Parliament and witnesses who appeared before the committee, that he has no interest and he does not have any regard or respect for Parliament.

“An action was supposed to be taken soon after the decision was taken by the Ad Hoc Committee that the legal team must subpoena Paul O’Sullivan, because he behaves like somebody who is supreme, he behaves like a spoiled brat, he thinks he is dealing with his friends here. He doesn’t realise that he is now in a different environment which involves the MK party.

“He is not dealing with his friends which he used to control in the previous years,” said Nomvalo.

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