ACF says it may lay intimidation charges against Paul O’Sullivan after Madlanga testimony

The Activists and Citizens Forum (ACF) says it is considering laying criminal intimidation charges against private investigator Paul O’Sullivan after testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry accusing him of threatening senior police officials.

ACF demands action after explosive testimony

Dennis Bloem, national spokesperson of the ACF, said the organisation “would not tolerate O’Sullivan’s conduct” and that “the time has come for law enforcement agencies to act.”

Bloem told reporters the ACF was “considering laying criminal charges of intimidation against O’Sullivan after the testimony of senior Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) investigator Mantsha Raphesu.”

“We will never allow anyone to go around threatening and intimidating innocent people,” Bloem said.

Allegations heard at the Madlanga Commission

Raphesu testified that O’Sullivan sent a scathing e-mail to Brigadier Dineo Mokwele, suspended deputy police national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu.

According to Raphesu’s testimony, the e-mail demanded that Mokwele resign, repay money from her “unlawful appointment”, and hand over documents and names of those involved. Raphesu said O’Sullivan reportedly threatened to take “necessary action” if she refused.

Background to the Mokwele controversy

The controversy followed questions about Mokwele’s appointment to a covert operations unit despite a private-sector background described in the source as a BMW engineer. Initial Idac probes suggested she lacked qualifications and managerial experience.

Later investigations, the source reports, confirmed Mokwele held an industrial engineering degree, a mechatronics diploma and 12 additional technical qualifications. With the evidentiary basis weakening, national director of public prosecutions Andy Mothibi provisionally withdrew fraud and corruption charges against Mokwele, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and others.

Previous complaints cited by ACF

Bloem said the intimidation allegations were not isolated, citing the case of Cedrick Nkabinde, who told parliament last year that O’Sullivan sent him harassing messages at a committee hearing.

“These allegations are extremely serious. We must not allow O’Sullivan to go scot-free. If we allow this, many law-abiding citizens will fall foul of this thuggish behaviour,” Bloem said, according to the source.

What comes next

The ACF said it was considering formal complaints to law enforcement following Raphesu’s testimony at the commission. The source does not report whether charges have yet been lodged or how law enforcement has responded.