CAPE TOWN – Day one of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee proceedings got off to a rocky start on Tuesday.
Much of the anticipation was around KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
He was expected to deliver his much-awaited testimony before the parliamentary committee established to probe the explosive allegations he made in July regarding political interference and systemic issues within the justice system.
However, proceedings stalled before Mkhwanazi could even take the oath of office, as political parties raised a series of administrative and procedural concerns, some warning that these could carry serious legal implications for the process.
At the centre of the dispute was Mkhwanazi’s submission to the committee, which was labelled as a supplementary statement rather than an original statement.
EFF leader Julius Malema was among those who raised objections, questioning the basis of Mkhwanazi’s appearance.
WATCH: LIVESTREAM | Parliamentary probe into Mkhwanazi claims begins
Malema insists the committee cannot depend on a statement made to the Madlanga Commission.
“There is no statement of General Mkhwanazi before us. There is a statement of General Mkhwanazi to the [Madlanga] Commission. And therefore, in the absence of his statement to the Ad Hoc Committee of Parliament, on which basis do you want him to take an oath?” Malema asked.
He argues Parliament is not subordinate to any other inquiry.
Meanwhile, DA spokesperson on police, Ian Cameron, says these delays are frustrating as time is being wasted.
“We owe the country a process that has to run smoothly. These are things that could have been rectified before today,” he says.