Former NPA prosecutor claims Ipid was ‘infiltrated’ by O’Sullivan to target Phahlane

Michael Mashuga, a former prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), testified before parliament’s ad hoc committee on Wednesday, alleging that private investigator Paul O’Sullivan and his assistant, Sarah-Jane Trent, were deeply embedded in investigations conducted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). Mashuga appeared before the committee investigating allegations of corruption and unlawful interference in the criminal justice system. His evidence supports claims that O’Sullivan effectively controlled Ipid during the tenure of former director Robert McBride — an accusation O’Sullivan has dismissed as “blatant lies” and a “false narrative”.

The controversy stems from claims made by former acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, who alleged that O’Sullivan and Trent impersonated Ipid investigators to run a “shadow structure” aimed at targeting him. Testifying before the committee, Mashuga corroborated Phahlane’s account. Mashuga told the committee that at a pivotal time Ipid’s independence was compromised.

He alleged O’Sullivan and Trent simultaneously acted as investigators in a matter he was assigned to prosecute. “Ipid investigations at that stage were not independent because they were infiltrated and led by O’Sullivan and Trent,” Mashuga said. “They were biased and had a clear motive to falsely implicate Phahlane.” Phahlane was originally investigated for systemic corruption, money laundering and procurement irregularities, which eventually led to his dismissal in 2020.

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While a specialised “Phahlane Task Team” was established to handle the case, Mashuga argued that the team’s integrity was undermined by outside influence. “By permitting O’Sullivan and Trent to lead the investigation into the Phahlane matter, Ipid acted contrary to the independence and impartiality the Ipid Act seeks to protect.” He further alleged that members of the task team exchanged favours with the private investigators, driven by a shared interest in seeing Phahlane removed from office.

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