MPs eye Brown Mogotsi, Paul O’Sullivan as next witnesses in Mkhwanazi inquiry

PARLIAMENT’S Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has set its sights firmly on grilling controversial ANC-aligned North West businessman Brown Mogotsi and forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan, saying these witnesses must be “dragged kicking and screaming” to the committee.

This emerged when the committee met virtually to discuss its public participation process and the programme relating to the resumption of oral hearings. It also received a report on cases against  O’Sullivan.

MPs agreed that both O’Sullivan and Mogotsi should appear before the committee, and that they must use whatever means at their disposal to make sure they appear in person and not virtually.

The committee had an extensive list of agenda points to discuss, but only made minor resolutions with the intent to reconvene early next week before their hearings officially start on Wednesday.

O’Sullivan’s name arose during the testimony of Mkhwanazi and when suspended police minister’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, claimed that O’Sullivan wields the power to influence operations in the South African Police Service, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Committee members also reiterated that Mkhwanazi will have to appear again. The committee is set to resume with the testimony of former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane and head of crime intelligence, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo.

Phahlane is expected to appear on Wednesday, and Khumalo has been set down for Thursday and Friday.

Other witnesses expected before the committee this month include former IPID boss Robert McBride and suspended Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Julius Mkhwanazi.

Another pressing matter for the committee is the oral submissions from the civil society groups and the public, with them expecting to put a weekend aside to hear the submissions.

The committee has until February 20 to complete their work.

Cape Times