The Ad Hoc Committee probing allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi yesterday held its weekly housekeeping meeting where Members of Parliament resolved to seek further clarity on the appearance before the committee of Inspector-General of Intelligence Mr Imtiaz Fazel.
The committee also emphasised that it wants urgent resolution of its decision last week to institute criminal charges against Mr Paul O’Sullivan for walking out of the hearings two weeks ago while he was still being questioned. This is despite Mr O’Sullivan apology last week Thursday during his re-appearance before the committee.
During yesterday’s meeting it was further agreed to reschedule the appearances of National Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi to next week. They were scheduled to appear this week on Thursday and Friday respectively.
The committee also received a request from the Presidency for an extension regarding questions addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Some political parties represented on the committee raised issues with this, fearing that the delay in his response would affect their ability to ask the president clarity-seeking questions.
Regarding Mr Fazel’s appearance before the committee, there was initially uncertainty about whether the Inspector-General should be prohibited from appearing before it. Mr Fazel was suspended by President Ramaphosa in October 2025 pending a decision in Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence’s investigation into the Inspector-General’s conduct. Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia had shared Mr Fazel’s classified report with the committee.
Evidence leader Adv Norman Arendse read out an email from Mr Fazel in which he states that at this stage it seems that both the Minister of Intelligence and the Director-General are not in favour of his appearance. Adv Arendse said: “We looked at the legislation, at what was required for him to appear, and subject to the suspended Inspector-General consulting with the president and the Minister of Intelligence, there doesn’t appear to be such an impediment to him appearing,” Adv Arendse said.
Committee Member Ms Khusela Sangoni said she wants the Inspector-General to appear before the committee, by whatever means necessary. “A legal opinion on this matter is not a bad idea. Whilst the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, that very same Constitutions – the Bill of Rights – are subject to the law of General Application. If we are going to take this fight on, it’s important that we get a legal opinion.”
Committee Member Mr Julius Malema also voiced his concern that Mr Fazel should not be prohibited from appearing before the committee. “We are not called an Ad Hoc Committee for no reason, and it’s not like a police committee calling the Inspector General, who can actually appear before the intelligence committee. It’s not a normal operation.
“Therefore, we cannot want to behave like we are a special committee, which has a lifespan and which has to deal with more complex matters. We had a head of Crime Intelligence appearing before us. There was nothing whatsoever that was asked, which compromised the integrity of the crime intelligence. Nothing,” Mr Malema said.
“We have to find a way to bring a willing Inspector-General to come before this committee. His willingness is a demonstration that he’s got something to share with us. He knows what is top secret. He knows it better than me and you. He knows which areas never to converse in public, and therefore, Chairperson, our proposal is that whatever happens, let the IGI come,” Mr Malema concluded.
Committee Chairperson Mr Molapi Soviet Lekganyane said that the legal team and evidence leaders will get in contact with Mr Fazel and take it from there. “They will get into contact with him . . . The person who knows their conditions of service (best) is the Inspector-General of Intelligence, who is currently suspended, and he is the one who must respond to our call when we say he must appear before us,” said the Chairperson.
Mr Andile Tetyana from Parliament Legal Services told the committee the team, by direction of the Speaker, is in the process of collecting affidavits regarding opening a case against Mr O’Sullivan. Committee Members, who are of the view that he breached the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act of 2004, urged the team to act with haste on this matter.
The hearings will continue today with the testimony of Acting Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection and Divisional Commissioner for Detective and Forensic Services Lt-Gen Hilda Senthumule, and further questioning of Member of Parliament Mr Fadiel Adams.
The committee had been granted an extension to 31 March 2026 to conclude its work.
Rajaa Azzakani
10 March 2026
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