‘Blatant lies’: O’Sullivan dismisses Mkhwanazi’s allegations

Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivanhas vehemently denied allegations that he infiltrated the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) or any other state organs. KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi,at a media briefing last year, accusedO’Sullivanof exerting undue power and control over Ipid. Testifying before parliament’s ad hoc committee on Wednesday, O’Sullivan said this was a “blatant lie”.

“I did not infiltrate Ipid or any organs of state,” O’Sullivan said. “I hereby unequivocally deny these false, defamatory and criminally malicious allegations. The truth is a lot easier to understand and far more rational.” O’Sullivan sought to clarify the timeline of his involvement with Ipid.

He said his last formal complaint with Ipid was lodged in 2016 against then-acting national police commissioner Lt-Gen Khomotso Phahlane, adding he has not interacted with anyone at Ipid since 2018. O’Sullivan said when he initially opened the docket against Phahlane, Ipid refused to investigate for 10 months. It was only when former Ipid head Robert McBride was reinstated that the case saw movement.

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“I immediately told [McBride] I had opened the case and nothing had been done,” O’Sullivan said. “Within three months, we brought Ipid up to speed.” When asked by evidence leader Norman Arendse if he had ever been directly involved in investigations against Phahlane, O’Sullivan responded with a firm “no”. However, he admitted to supporting McBride during his suspension.

“I contributed more than R200,000 of my own money toward his legal fees, realising that if he was reinstated, the sand would be removed from the gearbox of justice,” O’Sullivan told the committee. He said McBride had asked him to meet with the task team investigating Phahlane. During the meetings, O’Sullivan pointed out where evidence could be found, including helping investigators identify the contractor who built Phahlane’s house, allegedly paid for with bags of cash taken from the boot of a state vehicle. Phahlane previously accused O’Sullivan and McBride of co-ordinating a plot to oust him, claiming they used “falsehoods and fabrications” to process “endless and malicious” allegations against him and his family.

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