EFF leader Julius Malema on Thursday expressed his approval of the newly established parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee tasked with investigating serious allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
This move, described by Malema as an “important step in the right direction”, aims to shed light on what he termed “pure criminality” within the SAPS.
Speaking during a media briefing in Cape Town, Malema said he was happy that the Ad Hoc Committee was given the green light to conduct the investigation.
“It is an important step in the right direction. What is happening in the police is pure criminality and we have to deal with that,” he said.
On Wednesday night, Parliament unanimously agreed to form the 11-member committee that will probe the allegations by Mkhwanazi and report to the House by the end of October.
Malema, who indicated that he would represent the EFF on the committee, said they want the truth to come out.
“What Mkhwanazi said must be repeated, backed by evidence in the Ad Hoc Committee and the commission of inquiry. It is no longer an issue of talking,” he said.
Malema was adamant that “there will not be manga-manga business” when the committee conducted its work over the next three months.
“We will play our oversight role. There is no duplication of duties,” he said in reference to the commission of inquiry appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to also investigate the Mkhwanazi allegations.
According to Malema, the committee will make its recommendations to the National Assembly to then refer them to Ramaphosa for implementation.
“We are to send the recommendations to him, and every time he comes here, he has to account for what is happening to the recommendations sent to you.”
The leader of the Red Berets indicated that the time allocated for the Ad Hoc Committee was inadequate, but they will work with speed to complete their work within the stipulated time.
“It is not enough, but we need to work under pressure so that we can try and deliver whatever report within a short space of time. If it is not possible, we are going to ask for an extension, but we must get started,” he said.
“We will actually pursue the line of starting as soon as possible. It is very important. It can’t be postponed anymore.”
Malema envisaged that they would work every day.
“For parties that send people there, for a change, must be prepared to work even on weekends. We have an emergency to deal with.”
He described Mkhwanazi as a “hero” for exposing the rot within the SAPS.
“For a man to go outside established protocols shows that what he did was to put his body on the line. That is what a man does, whether you agree with him or not; it does not matter. But he played a very important role in exposing the rot, and it is our turn as a country, not as politicians, to deal with this matter.”
Malema added that the country must ensure that Mkhwanazi does not get victimised.
“His contract ends in December. The post must be advertised, and he must apply to be reappointed again.”
He said that should the allegations go unattended and Mkhwanazi’s contract be completed, he was unlikely to be re-appointed.
“Somehow, he needs to be retained in the force and elevated to a national responsibility. KZN has become too small for him,” Malema said, adding that the DA-led Western Cape deserved Mkhwanazi to weed out crime in the province.
Asked about his views on the commission of inquiry, Malema said they were used by politicians to delay matters that can be resolved soon.
“The Zondo Commission is the most useless commission, they were buying time.”
However, he said the Ad Hoc Committee was different because the MPs have control over it.
“We are already paid to do what we are going to do. We are not coming at an extra cost.”
He insisted that Ramaphosa used the commission of inquiry to “delay the truth” and that it will not take less than two years.
