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All Eyes on Lekganyane: Parliament’s Big Move on Explosive SAPS Corruption Claims

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4 weeks ago

August 5, 2025

Chiraag

Molapi Lekganyane, SAPS corruption probe, Parliament investigation South Africa, ANC MP committee chair, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi allegations, political scandal South Africa, Parliament credibility, Joburg ETC

South Africa’s faith in its institutions is hanging by a thread. Now, with damning allegations rocking the national police service, Parliament is under pressure to prove it still has bite. Enter Molapi Lekganyane.

Parliament’s Man for the Moment

Parliament has officially placed ANC Member of Parliament Molapi “Soviet” Lekganyane at the centre of one of South Africa’s most sensitive political investigations to date. Elected chairperson of the newly established ad hoc committee on Tuesday, Lekganyane will now lead the probe into explosive corruption allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

The committee’s mandate is no small task. At its core: investigating whether senior SAPS officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, are complicit in corruption, abuse of power, and obstructing justice. Mkhwanazi’s claims include the alleged unlawful disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team and the mysterious removal of 121 criminal dockets by Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

Lekganyane’s appointment was secured with support from both the ANC and the IFP. Notably, EFF leader Julius Malema was also nominated but declined without hesitation, saying, “No, thanks for the nomination. I’m not available.”

A Country Watching Closely

In his first address as chairperson, Lekganyane didn’t shy away from the gravity of the task ahead. “All the eyes of the people of the republic are on this committee,” he said. “South Africans want to hear us rise to the occasion.”

His words reflect the broader national mood. Trust in Parliament and other institutions has been on a downward spiral. According to Afrobarometer’s most recent survey, only 27% of South Africans have confidence in the legislative body. Lekganyane acknowledged the public’s disillusionment directly, challenging his fellow MPs to either “represent those figures or rise above them.”

A Seasoned Political Operator

For many South Africans, Lekganyane’s name might not be a front-page regular, but his political résumé is substantial. Hailing from Limpopo, the same province as Julius Malema, Lekganyane has served in several key roles, including MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements in Limpopo, chair of the provincial Finance Portfolio Committee, and provincial secretary of the ANC.

Most recently, between 2022 and 2024, he served as special advisor to Minister Angie Motshekga in the Basic Education portfolio. He holds four university qualifications, including a law degree and an Honours degree in political science.

The combination of legislative experience, party leadership, and academic grounding positions Lekganyane as someone with the tools, at least on paper, to tackle the complexities of the investigation ahead.

The Committee’s Next Steps

Lekganyane wasted no time proposing a practical plan: get the secretariat to draft the committee’s terms of reference and programme. Once that’s done, the committee can formally adopt it and begin its investigation in earnest.

While it’s too soon to predict how the probe will unfold, Lekganyane’s urgency and clear direction have set a tone that contrasts with the often sluggish image of parliamentary inquiries.

What This Means for South Africa

South Africans have grown weary of drawn-out investigations that lead nowhere. With high-profile figures like Mkhwanazi, Mchunu, and Sibiya now in the spotlight, the stakes are monumental. This isn’t just about internal SAPS politics; it’s about restoring public faith in the justice system and Parliament itself.

If Lekganyane’s committee delivers, it could mark a pivotal shift in how allegations of high-level corruption are handled. If it fails, it may only deepen the country’s institutional crisis.

Public Reaction So Far

Online, public sentiment is cautious. Social media users are expressing a mixture of hope and hardened scepticism. While some praise Lekganyane’s appointment as a “step in the right direction,” others question whether the ANC-led committee will deliver justice without fear or favour, especially with fellow party members in the firing line.

One X user wrote, “We’ve seen committees come and go. We want results, not political theatre.”

Another countered, “Finally, someone with a real track record. Let’s give Lekganyane a chance before judging.”

A Moment to Watch

This probe could set the tone for how future allegations within state institutions are dealt with. More importantly, it could influence the public’s willingness to re-engage with the democratic process ahead of 2026.

With Lekganyane at the helm and Mkhwanazi’s whistleblowing lighting the fuse, the question now is: will Parliament rise to the occasion or buckle under the weight of its own credibility crisis?

One thing’s certain. South Africans are watching.