The parliamentary legal advisor stated that attorney and forensic fraud examiner Sarah-Jane Trent is an admitted attorney of the High Court and had legal representation when she consulted evidence leaders before testifying at the Ad Hoc Committee.
Image: Phando Jikelo / Parliament RSA
Former assistant to Paul O'Sullivan, Sarah-Jane Trent, wants her March 5 evidence before the Ad Hoc Committee declared invalid, saying she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was unfit to testify.
This emerged on Tuesday when Parliament’s legal advisor Andile Tetyana told the committee Trent’s lawyers submitted a formal demand to have her oral evidence struck from the record.
“I think the purpose of the correspondence is to have her oral testimony declared invalid… and struck from the record,” Tetyana said.
Paul O’Sullivan’s former assistant Sarah-Jane Trent appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, where she broke down multiple times during her testimony.
Image: Phando Jikelo / Parliament RSA
Trent, who struggled to answer questions during her appearance, claims she has lived with PTSD since 2017 and was overwhelmed during proceedings.
She described experiencing “secondary trauma” and “complete helplessness,” arguing she was effectively re-traumatised while testifying.
Her submission also alleges she was held against her will, a claim firmly rejected by the committee.
Tetyana dismissed her explanation as an attempt to justify her failure to respond to questions.
Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane backed him, stating Trent cannot claim she was detained.
The application now puts the inquiry at a crossroads.
If her testimony is scrapped, Tetyana said, “we might end up not having a report”.
In explosive testimony, Trent had revealed unsettling connections involving high-ranking government officials and key institutions. Her evidence shed light on O'Sullivan's relationship with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s advisor Bejani Chauke.
She broke down in tears following intense questioning regarding the legal basis for private organisations to assist the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), especially high profile cases. Former prosecutor of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Advocate Michael Mashuga had earlier testified the IPID improperly relinquished its core investigative responsibilities to private individuals, specifically O’Sullivan and Trent.
Trent had also confirmed to the committee that she had been in a “social relationship” with former IPID head Robert McBride.
Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Committee on Tuesday agreed to continue with its business until April 30 as suggested by National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza.
This followed the committee’s failure to agree on a realistic completion date for its work.
Committee chairperson, Soviet Lekganyane, said members were given two opportunities to discuss after Didiza gave the committee until April 30.
“In this meeting, it emerges that there is no agreement on the end date for this committee. As it stands now, we will work until the date the Speaker has given,” he said.
Lekganyane also said the committee’s support team will prepare the draft report and report on the progress made.
“At that time, the committee can make a determination based on the progress presented, make a determination, and go back to the Speaker to tell her this is the amount of work to be done and we think if we are given number X number of days, we will be able to conclude our work,” he said.
The committee was meant to meet last week to decide on the extension but could not meet.
Lekganyane then wrote to Didiza, asking for an extension until the end of June.
Didiza responded on Monday saying June was too far.
“She proposed that the report submission date be 30 April,” parliamentary legal advisor Andile Tetyana said.
The MK Party noted that many issues were left out in the judiciary and correctional service, with too much concentration on the police portfolio.
“We still raise the issue that we have not finished our job,” said MK Party MP David Skosana.
Lekganyane said the committee will not call for further witnesses but will ask specific individuals in writing for clarity and answers.
Cape Times