By Johnathan Paoli
Parliament’s South African Police Service (SAPS) Ad-Hoc Committee has rejected an application by convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester to appear before legislators.
During a housekeeping meeting on Monday, the committee received a letter from Bester’s legal team requesting that he be allowed to address the committee directly, claiming his testimony could assist in its work.
“Please note that we have received telephonic instructions from our client. He wishes to appear before the ad hoc committee to provide testimony that he asserts will be useful in advancing the mission and vision of the commission, particularly regarding testimony already adduced concerning him,” the letter stated.
Tetyana told the committee that the application provided little detail about the relevance of his proposed testimony.
“The letter is scant. It does not indicate what contribution he intends to make within the scope of the committee’s terms of reference, it simply states that he wants to appear,” he said.
According to the legal adviser, Bester’s submission suggested he wished to raise complaints about the treatment he is allegedly receiving in prison.
However, MPs across party lines indicated they were opposed to granting him a platform.
ANC MP Xola Nqola argued strongly against allowing Bester to appear, saying the committee should not become a platform for personal complaints.
“What we must avoid is allowing people to use this committee to voice personal grievances that are irrelevant to our adopted terms of reference,” Nqola said.
MKP MP David Skosana disagreed, urging colleagues to consider the request more carefully.
“I thought we would all apply our minds, but it seems some haven’t read the affidavit. This matter is within our terms of reference,” he said.
Meanwhile, PA MP Ashley Sauls warned that time was running out, saying the submission came too late as the committee planned to conclude its work this week, while ActionSA MP Dereleen James suggested the issue should instead be referred to the portfolio committee on correctional services.
Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane ultimately questioned the justification for Bester’s appearance.
“Bester is a convicted criminal who escaped from prison and skipped the country… We cannot be an appeals body. As parliament we must also be seen taking into heart the lawful running of the country. We can’t promote lawlessness,” he said.
Parliament’s legal adviser Andile Tetyana also confirmed that the criminal complaint against forensic examiner Paul O’Sullivan was opened last week in Cape Town.
“Chairperson, we can confirm that on Thursday, 12 March 2026, a criminal case was opened against Mr O’Sullivan at the Cape Town Police Station. On Friday, the following day, we were informed by the Cape Town Police Station that the matter will be investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the DPCI, commonly known as the Hawks,” Tetyana said.
According to parliament’s legal services, the case relates to two incidents involving O’Sullivan.
The first concerns an allegedly threatening text message sent to Cedrick Nkabinde, the former chief of staff to former police minister Senzo Mchunu, while Nkabinde was testifying before the committee in November last year.
The second involves O’Sullivan’s walkout from a committee session in February without the permission of the chairperson.
Tetyana said the Hawks’ involvement indicates the seriousness of the alleged conduct.
The meeting also focused heavily on the delayed appearance of the IGI, whose testimony is considered critical to the committee’s investigation into alleged irregularities within the police crime intelligence division.
Tetyana explained that the IGI had indicated he could only testify after completing mandatory consultations with President Cyril Ramaphosa and acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia regarding the possible disclosure of classified intelligence information.
“Section 7(8)(b) of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act places a legal obligation on the IGI to consult with the President and the Minister of Police prior to the disclosure of classified information,” he said.
However, the consultation process has stalled, with Tetyana telling MPs that the acting minister had indicated he was seeking legal advice, while the presidency had yet to respond.
Because the committee’s mandate expires on 31 March, members discussed alternative options, including conferring with Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, which has already heard related testimony in closed session.
Lekganyane acknowledged the tension between parliamentary oversight and national security protections.
“Matters of law are not matters that need our agreement, they simply need our understanding. The challenge for us now is how to ensure accountability without compromising national security,” he said.
The committee is expected to resume hearings this week, with national police commissioner Fannie Masemola scheduled to appear on Tuesday, while KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is expected later in the week pending final confirmation.
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