Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan is set to reappear before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Thursday.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys has said that the return of forensic examiner, Paul O’Sullivan, has just opened the space for Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee to ask him more questions that they didn’t have an opportunity for, as some documents were still outstanding.
O’Sullivan is expected to make his third appearance before Parliament’s investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi after he abruptly walked out of proceedings last Thursday.
O’Sullivan left during Thursday’s proceedings after he had repeatedly raised the time and stated that he had to leave the hearing at 1pm as he was going to miss his flight, and would have to carry the financial cost of rescheduling flights.
Chairperson of the Ad Hoc committee, Soviet Lekganyane, had asked Advocate Bongiwe Mkhize to conclude her questioning of O’Sullivan, and she shared that she had only a few questions left.
While Mkhize was wrapping up her questions, O’Sullivan stood up, gathered his things, and started walking out of the proceedings.
During Monday’s meeting, the committee heard from Andile Tetyana from Parliament’s Legal Services: “The committee resolved resoundingly that Mr O'Sullivan must come back and conclude his evidence, and as he was still under examination when he walked out of the committee proceedings.
“We can confirm that on Friday, the 27th of February, 2026, we addressed correspondence to Mr O'Sullivan, inviting him to appear before this committee on Thursday, 5 March, 2026. As he was still under examination, when he decided to abandon committee proceedings without the permission of the chairperson,” Tetyana said.
Mathys had also opened a case against O’Sullivan, alleging that his conduct was a direct violation of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2004 (Act No. 4 of 2004).
EFF’s Leigh-Ann Mathys.
Image: Phando Jikelo / ParliamentRSA
Mathys said Parliament must not be disrespected.
“Even if you think all the MPs in Parliament are clowns, at the end of the day, they've been voted for by the electorate,” Mathys said. “So what does this say about the electorate?”
While Mkhize was wrapping up her questions, O’Sullivan stood up, gathered his things, and started walking out of the proceedings.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Mathys said with O'Sullivan returning on Thursday, “he's actually just opened up for us to ask more questions because unfortunately we didn't have time to go through the documents we received from Home Affairs on when he applied for his work permit, when he applied for his residency and his citizenship.”
“Now we are going to ask him (about that), because those documents are a little bit more accurate, and then you'll be able to see what happens. We are glad that, as the EFF, we've been able to contribute to justice in our country.”
ANC Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, added that he feels it was good for the committee to persuade O’Sullivan to come back, as “it would not be in our own interest to take each other to court and engage in some prolonged litigation”.
“I think the fact that they were able to convince him that he must come back to complete his work on Thursday, is a step in the right direction, I don't think that the only way we can demonstrate our unhappiness with his conduct is for us to embark on the process that is going to cost Parliament a lot of money of going to court and all those litigations.”