Ad Hoc Committee Requests Another Extension From Speaker To Finalise Its Work

The Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by the South African Police Service's (SAPS) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has formally written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, to request an extension for the committee to finalise its draft report.

Committee Chairperson Mr Molapi Soviet Lekganyane said this request follows an intensive, painstaking period during which the committee received and processed a voluminous amount of oral evidence, physical documents and sworn affidavits from multiple witnesses and stakeholders.

Ms Didiza previously granted the committee an extension until today, 11 September 2026, to conclude its work.

Mr Lekganyane said the sheer volume and technical complexity of the evidence before the committee require meticulous examination. Members of the committee are currently engaged in a rigorous, line-by-line scrutiny of every submission to ensure that all material facts are thoroughly evaluated.

During yesterday evening's meeting he said: "Given the weight and potential impact of this inquiry on public confidence and the security sector, we cannot afford to compromise on thoroughness or due process for the sake of speed."

The committee has concluded the hearing phase and is currently locked in the phase of formulating its core recommendations and findings for inclusion in the draft preliminary report. "We are at a critical juncture of this assignment. Constructing fair, legally sound, and actionable findings and recommendations demands meticulous deliberation by all members. The requested extension will afford the committee the necessary time to synthesise the vast body of evidence into a balanced, comprehensive and accurate preliminary report before it is presented to the National Assembly," the Chairperson added.

Mr Lekganyane further also blamed the committee's inability to complete its report on the conduct of some committee members. "But let us also focus on the business of the committee because there are some unnecessary things that derail us in our meeting, where we end up not finishing the work that we must do because of our conduct and attitude," he explained..

Since the start of the deliberations, the committee has seen several heated debates in which committee members disagreed with wording in the draft report.

The committee also express concern about the non-attendance of some committee members, as numbers have dwindled since the deliberations on the report began. This follows complaints raised by committee member Mr David Skosana on the matter.

The committee Chairperson said: "We will request the secretariat to write to these members to remind them that the work of the committee is continuing and when they have an opportunity, they should attend meetings." He reminded the meeting that as the country is preparing for local government elections, many members have been deployed by their political parties to do organisational work.

Mr Lekganyane said the committee remains steadfastly committed to transparency, accountability and completing its mandate with the highest degree of diligence. Further updates regarding the revised reporting schedule will be communicated once the Speaker has formally considered the request.

Rajaa Azzakani
11 September 2026