Cape Town – The Democratic Alliance has rejected calls for MP Dianne Kohler Barnard to step down from Parliament’s inquiry into police corruption, insisting there is no conflict of interest preventing her from serving on the committee.
According to Eyewitness News, the DA obtained a legal opinion which found that Kohler Barnard is not biased or conflicted in any way.
The party had sought advice following allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused her of mishandling classified intelligence information.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach told the committee that independent legal counsel, advocate Michael Bishop, advised that “there’s no factual basis to conclude that Kohler Barnard is biased, conflicted or otherwise unfit to participate in the ad hoc committee,” as reported by EWN.
[WATCH] Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says Dianne Kohler Barnard is one of the leaders in the legislature participating in breaking the law and fueling malicious attacks within Crime Intelligence. pic.twitter.com/CmEcvXqwfL
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 18, 2025
Mkhwanazi earlier told Parliament that Kohler Barnard had compromised sensitive police operations by publicly sharing details about intelligence properties.
He said during his testimony: “She published photos of the houses, some of the properties that members are working from, in her media statement … the workplace is compromised.”
Mkhwanazi claimed the alleged leak exposed members of the Crime Intelligence Unit and the vehicles they used. “Those members were in a safe house. Once their location was published, they were at risk,” Mkhwanazi added.
Kohler Barnard has firmly rejected the allegations, describing them as “outrageous, defamatory, and baseless. She said, “I am hoping that he will finally apologise for calling me a criminal. He claimed I had broken the law and that is simply untrue.”
She further accused certain police officials of trying to silence Parliament’s oversight role, saying, “We cannot allow SAPS to shut down MPs who are doing their jobs.”
General Mkhwanazi accused the DA MP Diane Kohler-Barnard of abusing her privileged access to classified information and disclosing it in public, which compromised ongoing criminal investigations. That is a criminal offence.
Again Kohler-Barnard went on TV threatening to abuse… pic.twitter.com/PvcCZYOfqD
— Sentletse 🇿🇦🇷🇺🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@Sentletse) October 6, 2025
According to IOL, the legal opinion obtained by the DA did recommend that Kohler Barnard recuse herself only when discussions specifically involve the intelligence leak allegations. However, it found “no grounds” for her to step away from the broader inquiry.
Despite the tensions, the committee will continue with its work. Parliament has reportedly granted an extension until 28 November to allow the ad hoc committee to finalise its findings and recommendations.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/@NowInSA
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
