Economic Freedom Fighters Rejects ANC’s Suggestion of Using Parliament’s Legal Team

• Parliament's Ad hoc Committee to investigate the allegations made by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi rejected a suggestion made by the African National Congress
• The party suggested that the Ad Hoc Committee use Parliament's legal services during its investigation
• South Africans joked that the lawyers were members of the ANC and would subvert the course of justice

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, cabinet reshuffles, the State of the Nation Address, Parliamentary Proceedings, and politician-related news, as well as elections, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years.

PARLIAMENT, WESTERN CAPE — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejected the African National Congress's recommendation that Parliament's legal services be used to lead evidence in the work of the ad hoc committee probing allegations of police corruption.

The Ad Hoc Committee met on 18 August 2035 to discuss the terms of reference. The ANC submitted that the Parliamentary legal services should lead evidence. The EFF's deputy secretary-general Leigh-Ann Matthys opposed the initial proposal.

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What did Matthys say?

Matthys said that the proposal is deeply flawed. She pointed out that the process's credibility requires independence and remarked that Parliament staff are subjected to the Speaker of the Parliament and the Chief whip of the ANC. ANC member Thoko Didiza was elected as the Speaker of Parliament after the 2024 general elections.

A look at the Ad Hoc Committee

The Ad Hoc Committee was formed on 1 August 2025, more than two weeks after Mkhwanazi held a press briefing on 6 July. Mkhwanazi alleged that the criminal justice system, including police officers, prosecutors, and the judiciary, was infiltrated by a crime syndicate.

The ANC's Soviet Lekganyane was appointed as the chairperson of the ad-hoc committee when they met on 5 August. The committee has 11 members, including EFF president Julius Malema.

What do South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on Facebook discussed Parliament's rejection of the ANC's suggestion.

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Katleho James said:

"They want to use that legal advisor who on the first day said there is no evidence brought forward by General Mkhwanazi."

Gustav Otto said:

"No. Use a reputable independent law firm."

Serame Mashinini said:

"The notion of a conflict of interest arises in such circumstances."

Themba Zizi Jama said:

"Very good because those lawyers are working for a certain political party."

Monate Fela said:

"Those lawyers already advised Parliament that Mkhwanazi's media briefing was not evidence."

Mandla Senior Hlengwa said:

"No thief can lead a conversation about his colleagues."

Julius Malema slams Parliament's legal advisor

In a related article, Briefly News reported that EFF president Julius Malema slammed Parliament's legal advisor for statements he made about Mkhwanazi. Malema spoke during the committee's sitting on 5 August.

Andile Tetyana said Mkhwanazi's allegations did not constitute evidence according to his legal opinion. Malema, in response, accused Tetyana of being dismissive and said that he would be starting the ad hoc committee's work on the wrong foot.

Source: Briefly News