Parly police inquiry says ‘serious allegations' of bribery, hitmen prisoners must be probed

Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption said allegations of bribery and prisoners used as hitmen are serious and must be investigated.

This follows evidence by whistleblower Patricia Mashale implicating politicians in crime cover-ups and the hiring of hitmen to silence witnesses.

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Mashale also told the committee that she agrees with claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about deep seated corruption in the entire criminal justice system.

The Parliament ad hoc committee heard evidence from Mashale, where she implicated politicians in crime cover-ups.

Mashale also said Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, and member of Parliament (MP) Fadiel Adams blocked a hitman from confessing and naming the “kingpins” behind the murder of former African National Congress (ANC) councillor Sindiso Magaqa.

“Honourable Fadiel Adams travelled to KZN to the prison. He got a statement. The hitman did inform me to say they don’t want to allow me to plead guilty.”

Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane noted the seriousness of the allegations.

“You also have proof of bribery that X amounts have been paid so that the person does not divulge those details. These are very serious allegations and we may not want to miss out anything.”

Mashale also told the inquiry that she did not influence Mchunu’s decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and all she did was expose corruption since 2008.