Members of the ad hoc Committee expressed renewed dissatisfaction with the preliminary draft report, as they felt it did not adequately reflect their written and oral submissions. This became apparent during the committee meeting discussing the third draft after the content team was tasked with consolidating all received materials. Similar complaints were raised at a meeting held a week prior.
The first to raise the issue of insufficient reflection of their contributions in the third draft was EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys. She stated that the report largely failed to correspond with the materials presented to the committee, both orally and in writing. Mathys also emphasized that the content team should not alter the substance of the submitted materials, questioning whose instructions the team was following.
Mathys noted that the content team's task was not to neutralize their proposals. She added that DA had provided numerous materials concerning her MP, Dianne Kohler-Barnard. Mathys warned that if the team followed instructions from anyone other than them, this needed to be resolved.
Committee Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane reported receiving written complaints from several members expressing disappointment with the draft. He agreed that most of the committee members' suggestions from the last meeting were not included in the report and stated the need to find a way to assure them that their input was not being ignored.
MK Party MP David Skosana called the resubmission of materials a useless effort, comparing it to reinventing the wheel. Referring to the draft's conclusions, which justified certain individuals, Skosana said they looked foolish, as if they did not know what they were doing as MPs. He reminded everyone of the existence of Hansard protocols and records, noting that it was painful to say their contribution had not been taken into account.
When asked whether this meant the content team should be instructed to include the missing data, Skosana replied that 'they should do the right thing.' Mathys supported him, insisting that the team be tasked with reflecting the submitted materials. ANC leader Mdumiseni Ntuli agreed with them, pointing out that the problem lay in the report's structure, which was used to justify conclusions and recommendations that were 'diluted' without explanation. He demanded that the report be revised according to their proposals, including the main body, not just the recommendations and conclusions.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach stated that she did not care about the majority's decision but expressed satisfaction that DA was in the mind of respected Mathys. In response, Mathys countered that 'there is no DA living in the mind of the EFF' and warned that resorting to personal attacks would not be pleasant.
Meanwhile, Freedom Front Plus MP Wouter Wessels, ActionSA MP Dereleen James, and Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls defended the content team. Sauls refuted the claims by the EFF and MK Party that their suggestions had been ignored, pointing to an appendix with party materials.
Content consultant Nicolette van Zyl Gous acknowledged the comments received from members. Her colleague Christine Silkstone expressed regret over the members' negative feelings, stating that the concerns had been noted. Lekganyane advised the content team not to be too self-critical, emphasizing that criticism should be received in good faith, as members felt serious omissions should be reflected in the report. He concluded by noting that the members appreciated the work done and the committee's unwavering support.
Members of the Ad Hoc Committee, which is investigating allegations brought forward by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, voiced dissatisfaction with the second draft of the preliminary report, stating that it significantly diluted the input provided by various political parties.
The committee convened to discuss the draft preliminary report, which was intended to summarize the points of agreement and disagreement expressed at the previous meeting before the document was sent to stakeholders. Content consultant Christine Silkstone explained to the committee members that their function is oversight, not that of a court or investigative body.
Silkstone added that the report uses cautious language when existing evidence is incomplete, circumstantial, classified, contested, or has not been verified with the involved parties. The draft established that Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu's directive dated December 31, 2024, was issued and implemented within a substantially inadequate management process.
Serious irregularities and control failures were identified in the Medicare24 procurement sector. Regarding Mchunu, the report noted executive responsibility and unresolved integrity issues, but found no evidence of corrupt agreements or cartel instructions. Concerning the suspended Deputy National Commissioner Shradack Sibiyi, serious unresolved problems and the need for case handover were noted, but it was not established that he acted in the interests of the accused in the attempted murder of tender entrepreneur Busumuzi 'Cat' Matlala, political intermediary Brown Mogotosi, or an organized crime network.
Regarding Matlala's claims about roulette wheels and false testimony against former Minister Bheki Sele, no conclusions were drawn regarding corruption, perjury, or extortion. No personal criminal or disciplinary conclusions were made against the head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, lawyer Andrea Johnson. Furthermore, no illegal disclosure of secret intelligence information was found by Member of Parliament Fadjela Adams and Dianne Coler-Bernard.
The report lists individuals who did not provide evidence to the committee, or whose evidence was not verified. The absence of Feroze Khan from Crime Intelligence limited the committee's ability to resolve issues concerning his activities, and no adverse conclusions were drawn. Concerns were recorded regarding private investigative practices and access to information by judicial investigator Paul O'Sullivan and Sarah-Jane Trent.
ANC MP Khusela Sangoni-Diko stated that a significant portion of her party's proposals was not taken into account, noting that some recommendations were softened or 'diluted'. She also emphasized that the ANC raised the issue of classified information held by Adams and Coler-Bernard and recommended referring these two MPs to the Ethics Committee for assessment by the Joint Intelligence Committee.
MK Party MP David Skosana also expressed disappointment that their materials were not reflected to the expected extent, adding doubt about the existence of evidence regarding the link between Mogotosi and Mchunu. DA MP Ian Cameron commended the comprehensiveness of the report and advised holding face-to-face meetings when discussing the final version. He also mentioned that Coler-Bernard submitted the intelligence report to the Inspector General of Intelligence (IGI) because the Joint Intelligence Committee did not exist at the time.
EFF MP Lee-En Matis pointed out that the report mentions the vulnerability of the criminal justice system while ignoring evidence of its erosion, which was exploited by politically connected criminal elements. Matis stated that the report dilutes the evidence, and that Mchunu's directive was irrational, requiring clearer articulation. She also noted that the connection between Mchunu, Mogotosi, and Matlala did not pose a reasonable risk as suggested in the draft, insisting that it was improper influence that should be clearly stated, and pointed to Matlala's irregular relationship with senior SAPS officials.
Matis, along with Sangoni-Diko and Xola Ngola, highlighted several omissions, including Paul O'Sullivan, Trent, and former IPID head Robert McBride, insisting that their relationships were improper and require criminal investigation. ActionSA MP Derelin James stated that the report does not reflect the presented evidence, arguing that it is more like a procedural summary than a factual determination.
Committee Chairperson Council Lekganjane stated that the language of the third draft must be unambiguous, and the committee should not shy away from presenting its findings, recommendations, and directions. He stressed that they must be presented decisively and clearly to all participants.
The content team was given until Friday to prepare the third draft of the preliminary report, which will be reviewed before being sent to stakeholders.
