Cape Town – A parliamentary inquiry in South Africa turned tense yesterday as Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations involving the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The proceedings were disrupted after evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse, SC, raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest involving MK Party Member of Parliament David Skosana. Arendse noted that both Mr Skosana and Democratic Alliance MP Lisa-Maré Schickerling were named in Lt Gen Sibiya’s affidavit and had previously laid criminal complaints against him and other senior police officials.
While the DA confirmed that Ms Schickerling had withdrawn from the committee, Mr Skosana remained, drawing objections from Arendse, who argued that his continued participation compromised the fairness of the hearing.
“It’s clearly not fair for someone who has been a complainant in a matter against one of our witnesses to sit on this committee,” Arendse told the panel, warning that it could influence the credibility of the inquiry.
The MK Party objected to calls for Mr Skosana’s recusal, and the committee agreed to seek legal advice before proceeding further.
Lt Gen Sibiya, who gave his testimony under protest, told the committee that he considered Mr Skosana’s involvement a conflict of interest, citing the criminal charges the MP had laid against him.
Committee Chairperson Motlapi Soviet Lekganyane later said the matter would be reported to the Speaker of Parliament for guidance while the hearings continue.
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