The Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations Made by the South African Police Service’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi yesterday began hearing evidence from Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, deputy national police commissioner.
At the start of the meeting, evidence leader Adv Norman Arendse, SC, raised concerns about MK Party MP David Skosana’s presence in the proceedings due to possible bias against a witness. Adv Arendse said he was made aware of two MPs who appear in Lt Gen Sibiya’s affidavit and who have laid criminal cases against Lt Gen Sibiya, or other officials implicated in the investigations. They are DA MP Lisa-Maré Schickerling and Mr Skosana. The DA indicated that Ms Schickerling will no longer be part of the committee.
“This constitutes a conflict given the terms of reference that we will act fairly, and it’s clearly not fair for someone who has been a complainant in a matter against one of our witnesses to also sit on this committee, having already prejudged the matter against the complaint,” Adv Arendse said.
“They both formed the basis of an allegation that [suspended police minister Senzo] Mchunu, Lt Gen Sibiya and [Mchunu’s chief of staff Cedrick] Nkabinde are accused of defeating the ends of justice and conspiring to do so. It should be evident that if you’re sitting on this committee asking the witness questions when you have already formed a prima facie view that that person is guilty of wrongdoing, I think there’s an argument to be made that you shouldn’t sit on the committee,” Adv Arendse said.
The MKP opposed the request for Mr Skosana to recuse himself from the committee. The committee suggested legal advice should be sought on the matter.
Lt Gen Sibiya said: “As far as I am concerned, it’s a conflict of interest,” as Mr Skosana has laid criminal charges against him. He also noted, as the meeting resumed, that he was giving evidence under protest.
Committee Chairperson Motlapi Soviet Lekganyane said Lt Gen Sibiya should be brought back in, and if he was unhappy about the presence of a member, it would be indicated. He said the matter would be reported to the Speaker of Parliament.
Rajaa Azzakani
14 October 2025
Arrange a tour