Former Police minister and ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, asserts he did not influence TRC investigations.
Former Police minister and current ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, took the stand at the Khampepe Commission on Tuesday, where he categorically denied any influence over the investigations of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)-related cases during his tenure.
Testifying under oath before the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday, Mbalula affirmed that throughout both his periods in office — as deputy minister of Police from 2009 to 2010, and minister from March 2017 to February 2018 — he was not involved in the investigation processes concerning TRC cases.
Mbalula said that, as the minister, his role was more about policy than operational matters, which is why he was never briefed on any TRC-related matters, as that would have been the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation's (DPCI) work.
"The minister is responsible for policy, and not operations within the police portfolio. The minister of Police therefore has no legal authority to determine the investigation of cases and/or direct investigations of criminal cases. The minister plays no role in the allocation of operational resources to the investigation of criminal cases."
