The 11-member Ad Hoc Committee established to probe wide-ranging corruption allegations within the SAPS made by KwaZulu Natal Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has unanimously accepted and adopted the committee’s terms of reference, after weeks of deliberation.
The committee had earlier agreed to call Mkhwanazi as its first witness.
It will focus on investigating the alleged unlawful disbandment of the SAPS Political Killings Task Team by the now suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, as well as the removal of 121 case dockets from the task team, allegedly on the instruction of the suspended Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya.
Some parties have, however, raised concerns about the National Assembly Speaker and Parliament’s unilateral decision to restrict access to classified information relating to this investigation for certain members of the committee.
In the statement, ActionSA’s member of the committee Dereleen James has vowed to challenge the decision.
“ActionSA takes strong exception to Parliament’s and the Speaker’s actions in developing and effecting a protocol that would exclude ActionSA’s active participation by denying alternative members access to any classified material that may emerge during the committee’s investigation.
This clause in the protocol is not only legally baseless, referencing no legislative provision requiring such restrictions, but is wholly obstructive to the democratic integrity and intended work of the committee,” said James.
The party argues that the ‘Protocol on Handling and Viewing of Classified Information by the National Assembly’ was signed on 20 August 2025, two days ago.
“Clearly, this is neither an established precedent nor a longstanding framework, but rather a newly manufactured instrument designed by Parliament and developed without any consultation with the committee for which it was ostensibly intended,” added James.
She further reiterated that the decision is not merely a procedural irregularity, but a deliberate attempt to obstruct its work in the committee and to disenfranchise a serving member from exercising their role.
“The speaker’s action, if left unchallenged, could have far-reaching consequences for all parliamentary committees and the alternate members who serve on them, creating a system where different classes of members are treated unequally.
Alternate members exist precisely to ensure continuity when full members are unavailable or must leave a meeting early at moments when decisions are still to be made.
To unilaterally restrict ActionSA from accessing relevant information undermines our ability to participate meaningfully, leaving us in the rather absurd position of having to inevitably vote on matters without being fully apprised of the information necessary to do so,” explained James.
The committee will be constituted by 11 members, with four members from the ANC, two each from the DA and the MK Party, one member from the EFF, and two representatives to be recommended by other parties.
The committee is made up of eighty political parties comprising four members from the ANC, two each from the Democratic Alliance, two from the MK Party, two from the Economic Freedom Fighters, and two additional representatives recommended by other parties.
The committee has until October 31, 2025, to present its findings to the National Assembly.
