The Ad Hoc Committee spent a large portion of its proceedings on Wednesday, witnessing a difference of opinion between former acting SAPS national commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, and evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse SC.
Phahlane on Wednesday told the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the circumstances of his removal from the position, as well as his suspension, which is sub judice.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) Sibonelo Nomvalo, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee, said that Phahlane had a very long statement and that the exchange of words between the witness and evidence leader “emanates from different understandings of the issue”.
“That is expected in this kind of inquiry because the witness would, at all material times, show his side of the story and would try to show his side as the truth, and, on the other hand the senior counsel is inquisitive, and at some point, he gets argumentative with the witness.
“It’s an expected kind of phenomenon. There’s nothing ironic. There’s nothing strange. It’s expected of this kind of inquiry.
“Some of the things which were alleged here by Cedric Nkabinde have been repeated by the witness, General Phahlane, such as the interference of Paul O’Sullivan, and the conduct of Robert McBride. That now necessitates an invitation to them to the committee to come and explain themselves.”
Nomvalo said what was shocking regarding Phahlane’s testimony was the revelation that an amount of R31 million was paid by SAPS to a service provider for the purchase of 360-degree panoramic cameras, in which there were no services rendered.
“That is extremely shocking. It’s gruesome considering the fact that South Africa has socio-economic challenges, and government says there’s no money, and there’s deficit shortfalls, and so on, but then you have this kind of expenditure.
“How can you spend money on something for which services have not been rendered? I mean, that is not only wasteful expenditure, it is also irregular expenditure, it is also illegal expenditure,” Nomvalo said.
“People who are involved in such must be held accountable. We really need to take this further. Members who sit in the various portfolio committees must take this matter in particular further.
“That money must be found, we must see if there are no ways that we can use to recover it so that it can be channeled to necessities that deserve to have that money spent on.”
Nomvalo added that while they can’t anticipate or prophesise the testimony of the head of crime intelligence, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, who is set to appear on Thursday and Friday, He does feel like Khumalo is going to enlighten the committee on some of the allegations.
“He’s going to respond here, and he’s going to enlighten the committee on some of the allegations that are related to quagmires that are currently confronting crime intelligence.”
