The testimony of O’Sullivan came to a sudden end when, after raising issues of a time crunch, he stood up, gathered his things, and walked out of the proceedings while being questioned by Advocate Bongiwe Mkhize.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee heard that not only has a criminal case been opened against forensic examiner, Paul O’Sullivan, but that the committee will also be seeking a meeting with the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) regarding the evidence of the suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI).
Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi met late on Monday afternoon to discuss housekeeping matters.
Some of the key issues related to the appearance of suspended IGI, Imtiaz Fazel, the case that has been opened against O’Sullivan, but also the responses from the presidency.
Previously, the EFF also lodged a case against O’Sullivan after he abruptly departed proceedings at the end of last month. O’Sullivan left after he had repeatedly raised the issue and stated that he had to leave as he was going to miss his flight, and would have to carry the financial cost of rescheduling flights.
After O’Sullivan stood up, gathered his things, and walked out of the proceedings, it led to the committee taking legal action against him for contravening the rules of Parliament.
While O’Sullivan did return to the Ad Hoc Committee, the MPs still felt it was necessary to pursue legal action.
During Monday’s meeting, Andile Tetyana from Parliament’s Legal Services said that they had received a legal instruction from the Speaker's office to put together affidavits, in respect of two incidents, the first the 19th of November, 2025 (the Nkabinde incident), and the incident that took place on the 26th of February, 2026 (the walkout incident).
“We can confirm that on Thursday, 12 March 2026, a criminal case was opened against Mr O'Sullivan, at the Cape Town Police Station, and the case number CAS752-03-2026.
“On Friday, the 13th of March 2026, we were informed by the Cape Town Police Station that the matter will be investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks,” Tetyana said.
The committee also heard that the presidency said it would respond on Tuesday to the questions posed to the Ad Hoc Committee. The members voiced their displeasure at the delay, as it had been the presidency itself that said that they would respond by March 16.
A large portion of Monday’s proceedings also dealt with the recurring issues of the appearance of suspended IGI Fazel.
The Chairperson of the Ad Hoc committee, Soviet Lekganyane, said that according to the legal opinion, the JSCI has been conferred privileges that have not been extended to any other committee, and therefore, they alone would be able to hear the evidence of the IGI.
The committee raised their disagreement over the matter, but then ultimately landed on going through several avenues to make sure Fazel’s evidence is heard. The committee heard that the matter which they want Fazel to testify has already been ventilated in the JSCI.
“We now understand what the committee is saying, and Honourable (Khusela) Sangoni-Diko have said all the things that honourable members are saying - the report of the legal team is noted and accepted by the meeting.
“Number two, that we must check the point that Honourable (Ashley) Sauls has just made, whether the IGI has been stripped of his security clearance, because if he has been stripped of his security clearance, it means that he no longer has access to any document,” Lekganyane said.
“Even if he appears before us, he will not base his evidence on any authoritative source, because he doesn't have any access, even if those documents were authored or filed by him. It's a matter that has to be verified.
“Number three, we agree that we should confer with our sister community, the JSCI, and then we also agree that the executive must be made to explain why they would not have granted the IGI an opportunity (to consult),” Lekganyane said.
“The last point is that we may have to apply for the declassification of the documents, and I think that is contingent on the IGI being unable to appear before the committee, or on our meeting with the JSCI.”
He said that they will write to the JSCI to request a face-to-face meeting with them. Committee proceedings will conclude this week with the return of the National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, and Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi.