CAPE TOWN - The year 2025 was filled with explosive claims and counterclaims.
What began as a briefing from a provincial police commissioner turned into a parliamentary inquiry.
Parliament voted in July to establish an Ad Hoc Committee tasked with probing accusations of political meddling and corruption in the police and the wider criminal justice system.
The first witness to take the stand was KwaZulu-Natal Police Chief, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi,
Mkhwanazi, backed his claims over alleged corrupt elements weighing down on the South African Police Service as well as the judicial system.
He took the witness seat and addressed Mchunu’s directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), allegations of political interference and the involvement of criminals in decision-making processes of the SAPS.
The man who previously served as Acting National Police Commissioner told the committee that the PKTT is performing well and that its existence is justified, particularly in the context of next year’s elections.
Mkwanazi also told MP’s he has proof to support his claims.
The bulk of the intel is however, classified and will likely be dealt with in-camera at a later stage.
Next was Masemola.
He outlined the organisational structure and how that was not to Mkhwanazi's liking.
At that stage, a report back to Parliament was still on the cards for the end of October.
As proceedings continued, Committee Chair, Soviet Lekganyane, expressed his satisfaction with how the inquisitorial process is unfolding.
As police’s approach to combatting organised crime also came under the microscope, Parliament got to hear from Sibiya.
During his testimony, he claimed it’s untrue that the transfer of 121 case dockets from KZN to the police’s headquarters caused investigations to stall.
Sibiya’s relationship with alleged political fixer, Brown Mogotsi, as well as Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala also surfaced.
He admitted to knowing Mogotsi but only as someone with crime intelligence, while Matlala was a SAPS service provider.
Mchunu’s directive to disband the PKTT ushered in the cascade of events that culminated in the establishment of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee.
Squaring off with members of the Ad Hoc Committee, Mchunu insisted he has nothing to hide.
Mchunu maintains he broke no law and the move had the backing of the country’s number one citizen.
Johnson, also appeared before MPs and refuted claims that the arrest of Crime Intelligence Head, Dumisani Khumalo, aimed to hamper the work of the Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng.
Johnson also testified that IDAC is investigating corruption allegations linked to the R360m SAPS tender awarded to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
On the other hand acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, testified that Mkhwanazi's press appearance in full military uniform was unacceptable.
MPs also pushed Deputy Police Minister, Polly Boshielo, on why she didn’t do more to challenge Mchunu after it was confirmed that he authored the Political Killings Task Team letter.
NPA Head, Batohi, also took the heat seat, saying both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee provide a platform to start rooting out the rot in the criminal justice system
Mchunu’s Chief of Staff, Cedric Nkabinde, had to make a second appearance as his initial testimony was deemed unusable when he admitted that dates mentioned in his witness statement were thumb-sucked.
Nkabinde testified about his close friendship with Mkhwanazi.
When crime researcher Mary de Haas, a vocal critic of the Political Killings Task Team dismissed assertions she wrote the letter disbanding it.
When MP’s pushed her on who the sources of her criticisms are, she refused to budge.
Its its last week the committee moved their proceedings to the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria.
It was to hear testimony from alleged organised crime top dog Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
He told of payments made to former Police Minister Bheki Cele.
The Mamalodi-born tenderpreneur claims charges against him and raids on his home are politically motivated.
Matlala says he was targeted for the multi-million rand SAPS healthcare contract.
A day before appearing before MPs his lawyers raised several reasons why he should not testify.
On the first day, however, Matlala warmed up to proceedings.
The Committee’s evidence leaders are consulting with the last cohort of potential witnesses, including Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo, forensic investigator Paul O’ Sullivan and former IPID Head Robert McBride.
The MP's work is set to wrap up at the end of February.