CAPE TOWN - Alleged political fixer Brown Mogotsi’s access to suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has resurfaced as Parliament’s SAPS ad hoc committee moves closer to finalising its report.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is calling for a criminal investigation into the relationship between Mchunu and Mogotsi. The party argues that the alleged political fixer’s involvement raises questions about his access to and influence over the minister and the SAPS.
The committee met on Wednesday to deliberate on its draft report, ahead of its 30 October deadline.
The meeting came exactly a year after the committee began its public hearings, with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi appearing as its first witness.
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At the centre of the latest discussions was Mogotsi’s alleged role in the circulation of a directive issued by Mchunu.
ANC committee member Mdumiseni Ntuli questioned whether this was sufficient to establish that Mogotsi had extraordinary access to or influence over the minister or the police.
“The example made about the role of Mogotsi in the circulation of the directive by the Minister… does not adequately convince me to share the same perspective as the MKP on this matter.”
Ntuli said, however, that he was open to the committee refining some of the wording in the draft report as members worked towards a final version.
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Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane indicated that the committee had already passed the most difficult stages of its deliberations.
He said members had previously held intense discussions over the evidence and had worked to reformulate submissions to ensure consistency and flow in the report.
“We have gone past the tedious stages of evidentiary overview.”
The draft report will now be sent to the parties implicated in the committee’s findings, giving them an opportunity to respond before the document is finalised and tabled in Parliament.
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