‘Where do you get this authority?’ – Paul O’Sullivan denies he is a bully as MPs grill him over conduct

Paul O’Sullivan testifies before Parliament’s ad hoc committee at the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town on 26 February 2026. Picture: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan returned to Parliament on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to conclude his testimony before the ad hoc committee investigating corruption, criminality, and political interference within South Africa’s justice system. His return followed a dramatic exit during his appearance a week ago, when he abruptly left in the middle of questioning, citing the need to catch a flight at the Cape Town International Airport.

During his fourth appearance, O’Sullivan “unreservedly” apologised for leaving without the chairperson’s permission. He explained that his apology letter contained the reasons forhis departure, which were “confidential” and shared only with MPs. ANC MP Xola Nqola later confronted him over what he described as a repeated pattern of threatening behaviour toward individuals, including police ministry chief of staff Cedric Nkabinde and former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.

“Why are you bullying people around? Where do you get this authority?” Nqola asked. O’Sullivan defended his actions, citing previous personal attacks and legal challenges.

[paywall]

“I had to move my family from the other side of the world for their own protection because people wanted to kill me, and that included police officers who were part of this whole conspiracy against me,” he told the committee. “So if my conduct was seen as bullying, it was a response to the outrageous and egregious conduct of prosecutors and police officials who acted unlawfully, as they were part of the state capture project. “They wanted to silence anybody who was exposing corruption,” O’Sullivan added.

[/paywall]