A newly formed ad hoc parliamentary committee has appointed ANC MP Molapi Lekganyane as chairperson of the investigation into alleged corruption in the criminal justice system. 

The 11-member ad hoc committee was recently established in response to shocking allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. In his testimony, Mkhwanazi alleged that high-ranking officials within the South African Police Service (SAPS) are involved in widespread corruption. He further linked Minister Senzo Mchunu to suspected criminal networks. 

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Mchunu is currently on special leave  

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EFF leader Julius Malema and the DA’s Justice spokesperson, Glynnis Breytenbach, are among those in the committee.

In assuming leadership on Tuesday, Lekganyane acknowledged the public’s growing mistrust of democratic institutions. Referring to a recent survey, he pointed out that confidence in Parliament has dropped to just 27%, a figure he believes must prompt introspection among elected officials. 

“It’s up to all of us to say, those confidence rates is that we represent or do they represent us as members of parliament ?…My feeling is that all of us here, we have been appointed from a position of incompetence and every day when we do our work, let’s find a way to do better so that we can improve from that incompetence” 

The committee is expected to begin its work immediately, with a mandate to uncover the depth of the alleged corruption and assess the implications for national security. 

The committee has been given until end-October to report back to the National Assembly.