Parallel probes blurring lines of accountability, raising tensions

ON JULY 6, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi called a press briefing that left many South Africans tongue-tied as they listened to one blow after another about various illegal activities that Mkhwanazi said were happening.

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Implicated institutions included the SAPS, the judiciary, Parliament and individual politicians.

While some accused Mkhwanazi of failing to follow police protocol, many applauded him for opening the eyes of South Africans and for confirming what they had been suspecting all along - that high-ranking officials collude with criminal syndicates.

Since then, there has been commotion in Parliament and in the presidency. Parliament set up an ad hoc committee to investigate these allegations. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a commission of inquiry led by retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

Meanwhile, many South Africans have thrown their weight behind Mkhwanazi, who is dubbed the last hope in a hopeless situation as far as crime and corruption in the country are concerned. They argue that had Mkhwanazi followed protocol, he would have reported his allegations, but nothing would have been done.

Critical questions are worth asking. How did we get to this point? Did Mkhwanazi go to bed, wake up and decided to call a media briefing, or was his decision a saturation point after many frustrations and after observing the trend?

Had the president been decisive in his actions whenever any of his ministers were implicated in wrongdoing, would it have been necessary for things to turn out this way?

Given our experience with the Zondo Commission, what did we learn from it?

Had it been sincere and objective in its operation, would Mkhwanazi have taken this route? What role have our justice system and our judiciary played in instilling confidence among South Africans that indeed the judiciary is independent and acts with impartiality?

Importantly, to what extent did advocate Thuli Madonsela’s famous/ notorious “State of Capture” report set the country on a new pedestal?