DA seeks legal counsel on Mkhwanazi's allegations

POLICE CRISIS

- THEOLIN TEMBO

THE DA’s Ian Cameron, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, said that the party is seeking legal counsel after the claims made against fellow MP, Diane Kohler Barnard.

Cameron was speaking on the sidelines of the inquiry probing the allegations Mkhwanazi made of police corruption and interference.

Cameron said that Mkhwanazi has made a lot of allegations, and that for some, they have yet to see physical evidence, “but he seems very, very sure of the allegations made, and I think a lot more will likely be presented”.

“A lot more has been shared on top of what we heard at the Madlanga Commission, so it clearly shows that the parliamentary platform is extremely useful in this case, and that all of the MPs who are asking questions are bringing unique questions to the table, and (it allows) more time to ventilate specific issues,” Cameron said.

“Obviously, it's very worrying. It tells us that these aren't issues that were raised over a space of, you know, two or three months. These are issues that have been coming for two decades, and the amount of political influence in policing, we always knew it was an issue; I don’t think anyone knew how deeply it really was rooted”

Cameron also tackled the issue of Kohler Barnard where he said that he could not speak on her behalf, and he stressed how “it’s important that, as in any process, they’re innocent until proven guilty”.