‘What you did to us today is horribly wrong’: MPs lose patience with witness at Parliament inquiry

A public hearing meant to shed light on alleged criminal infiltration of South Africa’s law enforcement structures took an unexpected and tense turn in Cape Town this week, when MPs openly accused a witness of abusing Parliament’s time.

The ad hoc committee, which has been hearing submissions from members of the public, was left frustrated after a lengthy and emotionally charged appearance by Pheladi Matjaola, a former mechanical engineer at Anglo American.

A claim of cybercrime and harassment

Appearing before the committee at the Good Hope Chamber on Wednesday, Matjaola told MPs she believes she is the victim of a coordinated cybercrime operation.

“I am a cybercrime victim, and my human rights are being violated,” she said, alleging that she has been under digital surveillance for several years.

Matjaola said she had previously written to Parliament to report what she described as ongoing harassment by former Anglo American CEO Themba Mkhwanazi. According to her testimony, she opened a criminal case in 2021, after which police seized her electronic devices. She told MPs that those devices have still not been returned.

She further claimed that her movements were being tracked digitally and that her job applications were being intercepted, which she said has left her unemployed since 2019.

Personal impact and emotional testimony

The hearing grew emotional as Matjaola spoke about the toll the situation has taken on her family. She told MPs that concerns for her daughter’s safety forced her to remove the child from a boarding school in Limpopo and relocate her to Cape Town.

“It hasn’t been easy,” she said, adding that she resigned from her consulting work to personally ensure her daughter’s protection.

Ad Hoc Committee Investigating Allegations made by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi. ⁦@MpDamienklopper⁩ ⁦@IanCameron23⁩. Pic: Zwelethemba Kostile/ParliamentofRSA @SAPoliceService@ParliamentofRSA #pktt @NPA_Prosecutes ⁦@DOJCD_ZA⁩ pic.twitter.com/x0Pd2wx8gH

Justice-and-security-Cluster (@JustSecuCluster) February 4, 2026

MPs question relevance and conclusions

As questioning continued, MPs expressed concern about the lack of clear links between Matjaola’s claims and the committee’s mandate. It also emerged that she had implicated KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, alleging that a media briefing he hosted in July 2025 was intended to shield the former Anglo American executive from arrest.

Freedom Front Plus MP Wouter Wessels challenged whether her conclusions were driven by frustration rather than evidence, a suggestion Matjaola firmly rejected.

Chairperson delivers sharp rebuke

The tension peaked when committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane stepped in with a blunt assessment.

“You have abused this platform,” he told the witness, saying her submission could have been delivered in minutes rather than consuming the committee’s time.

Lekganyane also took issue with Matjaola’s admission that one of her allegations was sourced from TikTok, questioning the credibility of her claims.

While acknowledging sympathy for her personal circumstances, he said the committee would refer questions to the police and assess any responses before drawing conclusions.

A wider moment of frustration

The exchange sparked mixed reactions online, with some South Africans expressing sympathy for Matjaola’s distress, while others echoed MPs’ concerns about Parliament being used to air unproven claims.

The incident highlighted a growing tension facing parliamentary inquiries: balancing compassion for citizens seeking help with the need to protect the integrity and focus of formal oversight processes.

{Source: The Citizen}

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