DA Seeks Legal Advice After Explosive Allegations Against Kohler Barnard

“These issues didn’t start yesterday, they’ve been brewing for two decades,” says Ian Cameron

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is treading cautiously after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi dropped a series of explosive claims about police corruption and political interference including serious allegations against DA MP Diane Kohler Barnard.

Speaking during the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into Mkhwanazi’s claims, DA representative and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, confirmed that the party had sought legal counsel to navigate the unfolding storm.

“It’s important that as in any process, people are innocent until proven guilty,” Cameron said, adding that the DA wants to ensure fairness and protect the integrity of Parliament’s oversight processes.

Allegations and a Divided Parliament

Mkhwanazi’s testimony has shaken South Africa’s policing landscape. He accused Kohler Barnard of leaking classified intelligence information, an allegation she firmly denies. Kohler Barnard, who joined the session virtually, maintained that her record stands clean and transparent.

Cameron, who was present throughout the heated proceedings, said the DA is taking the claims seriously but urged the public not to jump to conclusions.

“We can’t turn this into a kangaroo court,” he warned. “We’re dealing with issues that go back almost twenty years, showing just how deep political influence in policing really runs.”

The parliamentary inquiry, which follows months of public pressure after Mkhwanazi’s revelations at the Madlanga Commission, aims to determine whether senior political figures have interfered in SAPS operations, particularly around crime intelligence and task team dissolutions.

Beyond the Allegations: A System Under Strain

Cameron emphasized that Mkhwanazi’s testimony highlighted far more than individual wrongdoing, it exposed systemic failures within SAPS.

From questionable vetting and promotion processes to the quiet phasing out of the Political Killings Task Team, the inquiry has painted a picture of a police service riddled with operational inconsistencies and political influence.

“We questioned why someone like Richard Mdluli was allowed to retire with full rank despite past transgressions,” Cameron noted. “It raises real questions about accountability and the oversight of SAPS leadership.”

He added that many of these issues will be revisited when the SAPS Amendment Bill comes before Parliament in the coming months, a move expected to strengthen accountability within the force.

Social Media and Public Response

On X (formerly Twitter), South Africans have been quick to share their frustration, not just with the allegations themselves, but with what they see as a pattern of political meddling in law enforcement.

One user wrote, “If Parliament doesn’t act now, this will just be another scandal buried in bureaucracy.” Others defended Kohler Barnard, praising her record as a long-standing critic of corruption in SAPS.

The public’s divided reaction underscores just how politically charged the issue has become, not only for the DA but for South Africa’s broader democratic credibility.

What Comes Next

Cameron insists that Parliament must remain a platform for truth, not theatre.

“The parliamentary inquiry gives us the time and space to ventilate real issues,” he said. “This is about fixing the system, not scoring political points.”

While the DA awaits legal advice, the inquiry continues to uncover the hidden mechanics of South Africa’s policing crisis from internal power struggles to questions about who truly holds influence behind the badge.

If Mkhwanazi’s claims prove accurate, the fallout could be seismic, shaking not only SAPS but the political structures that have quietly shaped it for decades.

{Source: IOL}

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