The Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has had its term of office extended from February 20 to 31 March 2026.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The intense focus on the Ad Hoc Committee has come back to haunt Parliament, as the activities have negatively impacted the operations of two crucial portfolio committees that have barely held their meetings since the public hearings started in October.
The committee, initially appointed in July 2023 to investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, had its term of office extended from February 20 until March 30 because it still needs additional time to engage several witnesses.
The extension was granted at a time MPs raise concerns on the implications on the ongoing functions of the Police and Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committees, whose chairpersons Ian Cameron and ANC MP Xola Nqola respectively, serve on the Ad Hoc Committee.
DA chief whip George Michalakis on Thursday saqid aside from the strategic planning meeting last year, the Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee hardly met.
Michalakis attributed the inactivity of the committee to the Ad Hoc Committee.
“The legislation processing is not moving forward and the bodies they oversight in justice are incredibly important,” he said.
“Perhaps that is worth following. We can’t afford the work of the Justice Committee to stand still for such a long time,” said Michalakis at the meeting of the Programme Committee.
Echoing Michalakis’s concerns, EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi said the work of the committees should not come to a standstill because of the Ad Hoc Committee.
Mkhaliphi specifically mentioned the Police Portfolio Committee, which has also not been holding meetings.
“I think Parliament must come clear and give an instruction to say all committees must sit … There are a lot of issues to be processed in that portfolio committee but it is not sitting until the Ad Hoc Committee finishes,” said Mkhaliphi.
Her colleague Natasha Ntlwangwini, said more effort was needed in terms of the Police and Justice Portfolio Committees.
“It can’t be that members are occupied and therefore the work of the committee is on hold. It is allowed within the rules to elect another chair and the work of committee continues,” Ntlwangwini said.
She pleaded with National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza for a speedy intervention so that the two committees can sit and continue with their work.
Cedrick Frolick, House chairperson for Committees, said they were well aware of the difficulty experienced in the two portfolio committees.
“It deals with the members who have been deployed by their relevant political parties to the Ad Hoc Committee. That impacts negatively on both those committees.
“Most political parties have sent representatives to the Ad Hoc who serve on either justice or police committee and as a result there is little movement due to the continued existence of Ad hoc Committee,” Frolick said.
Didiza said she and Frolick had a meeting on Wednesday to look at status of all the committee, their functionality and expenditure.
“We have noted the uneven performance, which some of them might relate to members serving on other structures but that should not impact negatively on the work of the committees,” she said.
“There is going to be one-on-one (meetings) to ensure the Ad Hoc Committee does not impact on the work of the other committees. They must continue to run,” said Didiza
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