Cape Town – Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee probing KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations has adopted draft terms of reference following more than 10 hours of deliberation.
The committee met virtually on Monday to finalise the framework guiding how MPs will conduct the inquiry.
The terms outline the inquiry’s purpose, witness procedures, public participation, resources, and timelines.
The committee is required to submit its final report by 31 October and will operate independently of the judicial commission led by former acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
MPs debated multiple clauses, including the handling of classified information, the scope of the inquiry, and proposals for external investigators.
Most parties agreed that the committee should adhere to National Assembly protocols.
The MK party’s proposal for an external forensic investigator was rejected, while the ANC suggested using Mkhwanazi’s allegations to identify witnesses, with the commissioner expected to testify first.
The DA proposed monthly progress reports to the National Assembly, but parliamentary legal advisers clarified that only a final report is mandated.
Hearings are expected to begin in Johannesburg and resume in Cape Town after the parliamentary recess.
Physical sittings will be held in the parliamentary precinct or other suitable venues, with virtual or hybrid sessions ruled out.
Some MPs criticised the meeting as poorly managed and confusing, with ActionSA describing it as “wholly inadequate” and MK party MPs calling it a “marathon meeting.”
The final draft of the terms of reference is expected to be circulated to committee members within two days.
