Another deadline extension for Parliament&#x2019s ad hoc committee

Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at the ad hoc committee’s hearing in mid-March.

Storm Simpson/ News24

Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating underworld infiltration in the criminal justice system has been granted a sixth deadline,now extended to 12 June.Speaker Thoko Didiza revived the committee under Assembly Rule 253(6)(c),maintaining its mandate and prior work.Concerns have arisen over repeated extensions and their impact on other committees,including the Portfolio Committee on Police.Will it be the sixth time lucky for Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating the underworld’s infiltration of the criminal justice system?

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza granted the ad hoc committee an extension to complete its work until 12 June.

This is the fifth time the committee’s deadline has been extended – bringing the total to six deadlines that the committee has had.

The committee last met on 28 April,when it decided to apply for this deadline extension.

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In an announcement published in Parliament,Didiza stated that she is empowered to grant such an extension,and noted that she previously extended the committee’s term to 30 April.

“The Ad Hoc Committee proceeded with its work but could not complete it by the extended date of 30 April 2026,” she noted.

“Therefore,I have decided in terms of Assembly Rule 253(6)(c) to revive the Ad Hoc Committee,the Committee to (a) maintain the same mandate and membership as agreed by the Assembly on23 July 2025; (b) incorporate in its work the proceedings and all the work done up to and including 30 April 2026; and (c) report to the Assembly by no later than 12 June 2026.”

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This is still a pretty tight deadline,given the busy parliamentary programme and the fact that all the departments’ budgets are being debated at the moment.

The committee is expected to receive a briefing from the evidence leaders any day now. Then it must deliberate on its report. It must give any persons against whom they make findings the opportunity to respond and consider these responses before it adopts the final report that it will submit to the National Assembly.

The National Assembly established the committee in the wake of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations that the underworld had extended its tentacles into the criminal justice system.

At that time,the committee’s deadline was ambitiously set for the end of October. This was extended until 28 November. Then it was extended until 20 February,and again until the end of March,and then again until the end of April.

READ | Ad hoc committee can’t agree on a deadline,but agrees not to entertain Matlala,Trent

Several members of the committee have expressed their concern that it is embarrassing for the committee to keep requesting deadline extensions. There have also been concerns about the ad hoc committee’s impact on the workings of other committees,especially the Portfolio Committee on Police,which has several members on the ad hoc committee,and wants to conduct an inquiry into gangsterism in the Western Cape.