Controversial private forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan made a return to Parliament this week to continue his testimony at the ad hoc committee probing allegations of capture, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system.
Although O’Sullivan’s second appearance made for the bigger headlines, it was the appearance of his former assistant, Sarah-Jane Trent, that caused waves.
During her testimony on Thursday night, a visibly emotional Trent broke down several times, seemingly buckling under pressure and the glare of the nation.
On Wednesday, former NPA prosecutor Michael Mashuga laid out the historical operations of what can be termed the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) troika, which included former executive head of the watchdog Robert McBride, O’Sullivan, and Trent. Their alleged plot, which involved, among others, lifestyle audits on high-profile people within the state and other entities, was laid bare. During her testimony, Trent confirmed Mashuga’s version of events.
Mashuga had previously investigated O’Sullivan and Trent for their proximity to McBride, especially in light of the implosion of former acting national police commissioner Lt-Gen Khomotso Phahlane, whom they had investigated.
Trent seemed to crack under the scrutiny from committee members who sought to understand her and O’Sullivan’s involvement in Ipid investigations when they were not employed there. Her attempts to explain their role in the Phahlane probe, whose house plan and property they had accessed while posing as Ipid investigators, ended in real tears when she broke down, forcing a temporary suspension of the session.
When she eventually composed herself, she made a string of concessions that might have compromised her associates, prompting the likes of the MKP to threaten reopening cases that were withdrawn against her and O’Sullivan.
Her most devastating blow, however, was reserved for McBride, who during his appearance at the same ad hoc committee denied having a romantic affair with Trent. After several attempts to downplay the nature of their relationship, she eventually admitted to having an intimate relationship with McBride.
“Have you ever slept with Mister McBride?” MKP’s Vusi Shongwe asked her. To which she responded “yes”, emphasising that it was not a romantic relationship but a “hook-up”.
In his testimony to the committee, former Ipid employee Cedric Nkabinde, who was once linked to the trio, spoke of a plot by O’Sullivan and Trent to propel McBride to the position of national police commissioner.
Trent denied ever discussing Ipid business with McBride during their encounters. She did, however, admit that at O’Sullivan’s instruction, she had conducted a lifestyle audit on then police minister Nathi Nhleko.
She also admitted that she was the complainant in the July 2021 unrest case against former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, and shared chilling details about how she and O’Sullivan were involved in saving President Cyril Ramaphosa’s son, Andile, from allegations of benefiting from Bosasa. In the case of Andile Ramaphosa, she also implicated ANC NEC member
Dr Bejani Chauke.
