KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Tuesday night doubled down on his accusation that DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard disclosed classified crime intelligence information.
Mkhwanazi also warned that should MPs go to the media and say things again about Crime Intelligence, he would come back with more evidence.
Mkhwanazi first made allegations against Kohler-Barnard when he testified before the Madlanga Commission, but she has denied the accusations.
Testifying before the parliamentary inquiry, Mkhwanazi took issue that Kohler-Barnard asked parliamentary questions as a member of Police Portfolio Committee about procurement of properties of Crime Intelligence that should have been asked in the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI).
“She forgot she was a member of the JSCI and therefore she should have known about this,” he said.
Mkhwanazi gave examples of questions Kohler-Barnard asked as a member of the Police Portfolio Committee in February this year when she was sworn-in as a member of JSCI.
“She wanted to know about an investigative report by the Inspector-General of Intelligence. I don’t want to say the report ended being spoken by News24,” he said.
Mkhwanazi also said Kohler-Barnard had asked Public Works and Infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson another question that dealt with buildings Crime Intelligence purchased during the period Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo was at helm.
He accused her of taking things that belonged in JSCI and asked them through an open committee such as the Police Portfolio Committee.
“This is just but an example of things we put before you. There is other evidence we have at our disposal.”
Mkhwanazi said he had told the Madlanga Commission that Crime Intelligence has its own ways of operations and did not acquire properties through the Department of Public Works.
“She knows that. Crime Intelligence has been leasing buildings, safe houses and some of the properties. You will be shocked of some of properties, who they belong to.”
The KZN police commissioner also said Crime Intelligence has been leasing buildings as far as he could remember not via Public Works Department and there has not been an issue about that.
“Some members of Crime Intelligence benefitted from leasing of the facilities,” he said, adding that MPs were fed information on properties purchased irregularly.
“If purchased irregularly, the head of Crime Intelligence and national commissioner must be held accountable, but hold them accountable on correct structures, don’t misplace it, don’t go to media to grand stand, take it to JSCI and demand accountability,” he said.
Mkhwanazi warned that if the accountability was taken out of the appropriate platforms to make the allegations about Crime Intelligence members, there was a risk that they would defend themselves.
“The best way is to speak the truth. When they come the majority of you will not be able to stomach it. This country will burn. There are top secret things that should not be discussed in public.”
He also said some members of Crime Intelligence have been paraded in front of cameras to make them look bad.
“They kept quiet but they know the truth conventionally or otherwise.”
He singled out Khumalo who was branded as bad.
“We have a family of (Richard) Mdluli that still control listening to you. That is what Khumalo tries to fix.”
Mkhwanazi said were the Crime Intelligence members to call a press conference, it would be worse than what he did in July.
“Go to media tomorrow honourable members and say things again. I am going to come with another evidence,” he warned.
In a response to Kohler-Barnard’s demand for an apology, Mkhwanazi said when he had called her out, she claimed that there was no JSCI and asked him to in a national television.
“I’m apologising that the member had forgotten the oath that she took. That oath has got an expired date, according to her, that this one is valid only for the period when the JSCI committee exists.
“When the joint standing committee doesn’t exist, that oath that she took, it expires.”
He also said Kohler-Barnard had forgotten that she took an oath before South Africans in Parliament not to devise the secret of government, and she forgot about the oath.
“I must also apologise that the honourable member forgot that in May this year, she took an oath as a member of the Joint Standing Committee of Intelligence, but she still comes to the portfolio committee of police and ask questions about the secret fund account,” Mkhwanazi said.
The DA will give feedback to the committee on Wednesday morning on whether Kohler-Barnard will excuse herself from the proceedings or be replaced as an alternative member to the inquiry.
