KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will return to the stand as the last witness before the Ad Hoc Committee next week.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
The Ad Hoc Committee investigating serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about eight months ago is approaching a critical juncture.
As public hearings conclude, the stage is set for the testimonies of Mkhwanazi and National Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who will return to the stand as the last witnesses over the upcoming week.
Mkhwanazi is expected to take the stand on Tuesday, followed by Masemola on Wednesday.
Their testimonies are keenly anticipated as they will respond to allegations raised by previous witnesses and offer clarifications on pertinent issues that have emerged since their earlier appearances before the committee late last year.
Notably, all eyes will be on Mkhwanazi, who previously vowed to reveal those who would testify and tell lies.
“I will come back again and bring more evidence,” warned Mkhwanazi during the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The committee's Chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, stated that, after hearing from all witnesses, evidence leaders would provide a comprehensive overview of the testimonies presented.
Following this, the committee's secretariat will compile a report for MPs to deliberate on, ensuring that every contribution is considered before it is forwarded to the National Assembly.
“We are not looking for any specific outcome. We are guided by our terms of reference,” Lekganyane said.
“If the evidence presented meets the terms of reference, we will go to Parliament and inform them about the witnesses we heard, and that 'this is what we must present before you'.”
Earlier this week, the committee heard oral evidence from several witnesses, including a top former police officer, an MP, and members of the public.
One notable revelation concerned affidavits prepared for criminal charges against forensic fraud examiner Paul O'Sullivan, who abruptly exited the proceedings two weeks ago before fully completing his evidence.
Acting Deputy National Commissioner Hilda Senthumule provided her oral testimony regarding the Political Killings Task Team, alleging she informally learnt of the disbandment through head of Crime Intelligence Dumisani Khumalo.
She claimed that she told him there was no written instruction to engage Khumalo from suspended Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Senthumule vehemently denied claims that she had a prior relationship with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
“I can be triangulated. I don’t know Mr Matlala,” she reassured the committee, expressing indignation over unfounded allegations that Sibiya had financed her cosmetic surgery.
Senthumule told the MPs that she was pursuing criminal and legal action against Sibiya.
In his testimony, National Coloured Congress leader and MP Fadiel Adams defended his decision to open the criminal charges against senior Crime Intelligence officers, after he obtained classified documents that were allegedly slipped under his parliamentary office door.
Adams accused the Crime Intelligence of illegally purchasing hotels that were used as “washing machine” for money laundering and alleged that the PKTT paid for use of the properties.
He also made allegations against Mkhwanazi, whom he accused of using his July 2025 conference to protect Masemola.
Also testifying before the committee was retired deputy national commissioner Francinah Vuma, who made damning allegations against former police minister Bheki Cele and Masemola for interfering in her duties and victimisation.
“I had to make protected disclosures in July 2022 because of a number of things I observed happening to me,” said Vuma, who was placed on suspension in 2022 and never reinstated despite a court ruling in her favour until she retired this year.
The DA walked out after the committee proceeded with the evidence of businessman Kishene Chetty despite being warned that he may incriminate himself.
Chetty, who faces pending cases, laid criminal charges against the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption’s investigators and a prosecutor for allegedly re-enrolling a case without following court processes after it was withdrawn.
On Friday, suspended police sergeant Samkeliso Mlotshwa, attached to the order Policing Unit, accused Mkhwanazi of assault and torture following the kidnapping of a businessman in KwaZulu-Natal in 2024.
Mlotshwa insisted that Mkhwanazi held his media briefing to defend Masemola after learning about the rumours of his arrest.
“He realised that a new Acting National Commissioner could have appointed a Board of Fitness to determine his culpability and involvement in this case. I believe this contributed to the calling of the July 6 press briefing,” he said.