Former acting SAPS national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane stated that forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan leads a well-decorated group within the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
Testifying at the Ad Hoc Committee probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, on Wednesday, Phahlane said the control O’Sullivan wielded was not only in IPID, but also in the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority.
“He has an obviously well-decorated group in IDAC. General Mkhwanazi termed them a rogue unit.
“I have no reason not to agree with General Mkhwanazi. In my statement, when I was interviewed, I said that the rogue unit is led by Matthews Sesoko,” he said.
The Ad Hoc Committee is investigating the alleged unlawful disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, the moratorium in the filling of vacancies in the Crime Intelligence Unit, and the alleged corrupt relationship between senior leadership of the SAPS and members of the public, as well as political interference in the work of the police service.
Phahlane charged that the “rogue unit” at IDAC used to be the “Phahlane Task Team” that investigated him at IPID while he was acting national commissioner.
“That Phahlane Task Team has relocated to IDAC. That is a rogue unit I can refer to,” he said.
Mkhwanazi previously made references to rogue elements at IDAC when he appeared before the inquiry.
Phahlane saluted Mkhwanazi for exposing corruption within the SAPS.
“General Mkhwanazi went public on issues which are of national importance. When he went public, it was not the first time he raised those issues.”
He told the inquiry that Mkhwanazi had told the inquiry that he had deposed an affidavit to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, but was never given an opportunity to testify.
Phahlane, too, had deposed an affidavit on issues of former IPID executive director Robert McBride and O’Sullivan to the Zondo Commission.
He earlier told the inquiry that although he was given permission to come to the Zondo Commission, he was never given a date.
“It came without me respond to issues, which remain relevant to proceedings today and Madlanga (Commission). He (Judge Raymond Zondo) did not make findings on the security issues. There was a recommendation that he recommend to the president to have an inquiry focusing on security. I welcomed that and thought that an opportunity would present itself.”
Phahlane also said Mkhwanazi did the right thing by speaking out on issues of serious concern.
“Here we are, we have a platform to address it. If the (Zondo) Commission recommended, maybe these issues would be ventilated there. These issues would have been raised on that platform.”
In his testimony led by evidence elder Advocate Norman Arendse, Phahlane said the IPID, under McBride, implicated him in falsehoods and fabrication by peddling and processing malicious allegations directed at him and his family.
“I submitted an extensive affidavit to the State Capture Commission detailing capture of IPID and onslaught by McBride, O’Sullivan, and their accomplices to capture SAPS,” he said, adding that Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, came speak to the committee on it.
He recalled a Police Portfolio Committee meeting in 2017 when he and McBride were called regarding IPID investigations against him.
“I characterised IPID as an institution captured by Paul O’Sullivan.”
He also said McBride orchestrated a war against him through the media, with O’Sullivan, on the pretext of fighting corruption and maladministration.
Phahlane also accused McBride of unleashing propaganda machinery and being relentless in his efforts to cause harm and damage to those in his sights.
“I salute McBride in this regard despite the pain directed at my person.”
He described O’Sullivan, who allegedly conducted investigations for the police watchdog, as an “honourary IPID member” and that McBride reported to him.
After Phahlane’s marathon testimony, which started at 11am until after 9pm, committee Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane said they would re-allocate a day or several days for Phahlane’s re-appearance when they hold a meeting on Monday.
“In the period between now and the date of your re-appearance, yourself and evidence leader need to get closer to each other,” Lekganyane said.
This came after Arendse and Phahlane had been at loggerheads during the confrontational testimony.
