However‚ opposition MPs objected.
The DA’s Leonard Basson argued that MPs were running ahead of themselves because they‚ too‚ were not aware what kind of information they would be receiving – and it was not clear on what basis were they making the call for the meeting to be closed.
“We will object to have a closed meeting without information that shows it would be necessary to have a closed meeting‚” he said.
He was supported by his DA colleague‚ Rainey Hugo.
ANC MP Derick Mnguni said the committee was hoping to get to the bottom of all the issues that are under investigation and entities should be able to be free to disclose information‚ adding that individuals should not be tried in a court of public opinion. Three other ANC MPs agreed with him.
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) Russel Nsikayezwe Cebekhulu differed with the ANC’s stance‚ but suggested that heads of the law enforcement entities themselves state whether the information could not be shared in an open meeting.
Andy Mothibi‚ the head of the SIU‚ said they wanted to go into some granular detail about the matters before them‚ including outcomes in some of the cases which have not been made public and are not in a court of law yet‚ as well as names of people and of entities.