The Ad Hoc Committee of Parliament, investigating allegations by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is seeking clarity on Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) Imtiaz Fazel’s appearance. EFF MP Julius Malema voiced his concern that Fazel should not be prohibited from appearing before the committee, stating that corruption can never be a top secret.
Malema’s comments come after Fazel was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October, pending a decision in an investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) into the Inspector-General’s conduct. The Parliament of South Africa has a responsibility to ensure that all officials, including those in intelligence, are held accountable for their actions.
Corruption and Transparency
Malema argued that the committee’s role is to uncover the truth and ensure that corruption is rooted out. He stated that the committee is not a special committee, but rather an Ad Hoc Committee that has a specific mandate to investigate and report on the allegations. The Government of South Africa has a duty to ensure that all citizens have access to information and that corruption is not tolerated.
The committee also heard that the Parliamentary legal team are currently collecting affidavits regarding opening a case against forensic analyst Paul O’Sullivan after he walked out of the Ad Hoc Committee hearing. This development has raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of the committee’s proceedings.
Next Steps
The chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee, Soviet Lekganyane, said that the legal team and evidence leaders will get in contact with Fazel and take it from there. The committee will also continue to investigate the allegations and gather evidence to inform their report. Some of the key issues that the committee will consider include:
- The circumstances surrounding Fazel’s suspension
- The allegations of corruption and misconduct
- The role of the Inspector-General of Intelligence in ensuring transparency and accountability
The committee’s findings and recommendations will be crucial in ensuring that corruption is addressed and that those responsible are held accountable. As Malema stated, corruption can never be a top secret, and it is the responsibility of all citizens to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders.
