External legal counsel set to guide Mkhwanazi inquiry process

THE Ad Hoc Committee that will probe the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will use the services of an external legal counsel to lead evidence and obtain advice.

- MAYIBONGWE MAGHINA

This was one of the decisions taken when the MPs discussed the committee's terms of reference.

The decision came despite ANC MP Xola Ngola proposing that they should strive to curb costs by making use of the parliamentary legal services.

“We must not use the services of external legal practitioners but rather utilise the services of the parliamentary legal and constitutional services,” Nqola said.

He said Parliament has a capable team that can perform all the work that is required from an external legal counsel to advise and lead evidence.

However, MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo said the parliamentary legal services have demonstrated on numerous occasions that they lack capacity to a certain extent.

“We need an experienced and senior legal professional with demonstrable skills, as the work we undertake may be subject to judicial scrutiny,’ said Nomvalo, adding that they had expressed their concerns on the quality of work by the parliamentary legal team.

“We don't have confidence in the legal team, with the greatest respect,’ he said.