The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has turned up the heat on Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron, calling for him to appear before the Madlanga commission of inquiry to account under oath over alleged interactions with officials of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac).
The MK Party has also written to Parliament demanding that it investigate the nature of Cameron’s alleged interactions with former Idac officials, including the disgraced Adv Andrea Johnson and Dylan Perumal, and determine whether other MPs were similarly approached.
Alleged plot to target senior SAPS leadership
The move follows evidence presented before the commission concerning former Idac officials and alleged efforts to target senior South African Police Service (SAPS) leadership.
The MKP stressed that it was not making any finding against Cameron, DA’s member of parliament, who has denied involvement in any alleged scheme to remove or target senior police officials.
Read: Andrea Johnson allegedly sidelined prosecutor for challenging arrest and bail instructions
The party led by former president, Jacob Zuma also pointed to evidence by Adv Drushantha Ramsamy, who clarified that her testimony did not establish Cameron’s participation in such a scheme.
MKP argued that the conflicting claims make it necessary for Cameron to place his version on record under oath.
‘MPs must be held to account’
MK MP Thulani Shongwe, in his letter to Madlanga commission’s chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, said the commission had demonstrated its willingness to compel MPs to account where their evidence could assist in establishing the truth.
“Hon Fadiel Adams has been subpoenaed to appear before the commission. The MK Party respectfully submits that the same principle should apply wherever the evidence establishes that another parliamentary actor may possess material information relevant to the commission’s mandate. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the commission consider calling Hon Cameron to address, inter alia, whether he was approached by former Idac officials, including Mr Dylan Perumal or Adv Andrea Johnson. The circumstances and purpose of any such approach [is] whether he [Cameron] was requested to provide information or become a complainant in an Idac investigation [or] whether he provided Idac with information, documents, intelligence or other material concerning SAPS officials,” said Shongwe.
‘Did Cameroon dabble in SAPS top brass matters?’
Shongwe also added that it was important to establish if Cameron had communications with Idac officials concerning the suspended SAPS national commissioner, Gen Fannie Masemola, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo or other senior SAPS officials.
The party also wants Parliament to determine whether other MPs were approached and whether the same standard of accountability is being applied to all members.
The MKP said:
“This is not about targeting an individual. It is about a simple principle. No Member of Parliament is above scrutiny, and none should be shielded from it because of political affiliation.”
The party accused the Parliament of risking a credibility problem if it demands accountability from police officials and state institutions while failing to scrutinise its own leadership.
The MKP also said that calling Cameron would not prejudge him but would give him an opportunity to directly confront the allegations and allow the commission to distinguish between fact, inference, suspicion and false allegations.
“The MK Party urges the Commission to follow the evidence wherever it leads. If there is nothing to answer for, let the evidence show that. If there are questions, they must be answered,” the party said.
The latest intervention threatens to pull the parliamentary oversight battle deeper into the explosive allegations being ventilated at the Madlanga Commission, with the spotlight now firmly on whether Cameron will be required to account before the inquiry.
Read: Popcru wants DA MP Ian Cameron axed for labelling Paul Mashatile’s protectors thugs
Cameron told Sunday World that he had never had any issues with Masemola and Khumalo as he pointed that he did not discuss them with anyone from Idac.
“I am not going to be involved in the little political side show staged here, and I don’t answer to MK Party,” said Cameron.
- The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has called for Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron to appear before the Madlanga commission to account under oath about alleged interactions with former Idac officials.
- MKP has written to Parliament demanding an investigation into Cameron's alleged contacts with former Idac officials Andrea Johnson and Dylan Perumal, and whether other MPs were similarly approached.
- Evidence presented to the commission involved former Idac officials allegedly trying to target senior SAPS leadership, but Cameron has denied any involvement in such a scheme.
- MK MP Thulani Shongwe requested the commission to compel Cameron to clarify whether he was approached by former Idac officials about SAPS matters, including communications concerning suspended SAPS officials Gen Fannie Masemola and Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo.
- Ian Cameron stated he never discussed Masemola or Khumalo with Idac officials and refused to engage with MKP's accusations, describing their demand as a political "side show."
Read:
MKP argued that the conflicting claims make it necessary for Cameron to place his version on record under oath.
MK MP
“Hon Fadiel Adams has been subpoenaed to appear before the commission.
“
This is not about targeting an individual. It is about a simple principle. NoMember of Parliament is above scrutiny, and none should be shielded from it because of political affiliation.”
“
Read: Popcru wants DA MP Ian Cameron axed for labelling Paul
Cameron told
"I am not going to be involved in the little political side show staged here, and I don't answer to MK Party," said Cameron.
