By Marcus Moloko
Parliament’s ad hoc Committee investigating corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system has found itself at the centre of a spending storm after forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan revealed he was paid R80,000 for just two days of testimony.
The disclosure, made during his final appearance on Thursday, sparked debate about the financial burden on taxpayers.
O’Sullivan confirmed that the payment covered his initial two‑day testimony on 10 and 11 February 2026.
He appeared before the committee a total of four times, meaning his overall cost to Parliament could easily exceed R160,000 if the same rate applied throughout.
A breakdown:
R80,000 for two days translates to R40,000 per day.
With four appearances, the estimated total could reach R160,000 or more.
This figure does not account for additional expenses such as travel, accommodation, or administrative support, which may further inflate the bill.
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uMkhonto Wesizwe MK Party MP MP Sibonelo Nomvalo lashed out at the amount, explaining to O’Sullivan that he was not in Parliament for a honeymoon.
He vowed to write to the Speaker to ensure no further payments of this scale were approved.
O’Sullivan explained that the cost was for a three-star hotel at a time when bookings were at a minimum. He stated he took what he would get during the mining Indaba week.
The cost of securing his expertise has raised uncomfortable questions. Critics on social media argue that while accountability is essential, Parliament must balance transparency with fiscal responsibility.
The optics of paying nearly R40,000 per day to a private investigator, at a time when South Africa faced economic strain, including service delivery failures, are politically damaging.
