The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern the ongoing delays in finalising the terms of reference for Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee into the explosive allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Every day lost to procedural wrangling is a day that the rot inside the South African Police Service (SAPS) continues unchecked. The allegations involve political interference, the sabotage of specialist task teams, the removal of case dockets, and collusion with organised crime. Parliament cannot afford to waste time while criminal networks exploit the vacuum.
The DA has made clear that the terms of reference must be comprehensive and empower the Committee to get to the truth. Some parties appear reluctant to allow proper scrutiny of the role unions have played in protecting compromised officers within SAPS. Avoiding this issue risks weakening the credibility of the inquiry before it has even begun.
The DA is ready to start. We want this Committee to hear evidence without delay, to name the implicated, and to begin the urgent work of restoring integrity to SAPS. South Africans expect action, not excuses.
The clock is ticking, and the longer Parliament delays, the more justice is denied to victims of crime and the communities living under the weight of SAPS capture.