The Ad Hoc Committee has rejected a request by attorney and certified fraud examiner Sarah-Jane Trent to have her oral evidence declared invalid and removed from its official record.
Trent had written to the committee stating that she suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and claimed she was overwhelmed during her testimony. She further alleged that she experienced secondary trauma and was held against her will on the day she appeared before the committee.
COMMITTEE DEFENDS PROCESS
Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane said Trent had been asked during proceedings whether she was fit to continue and had insisted on proceeding.
Parliamentary legal advisor Andile Tetyana confirmed that Trent claimed she was unable to concentrate or respond coherently at the time of her testimony and had since sought evaluation from a forensic psychologist. However, he noted that no such report had been submitted to the committee.
Tetyana emphasised that Trent, as an admitted attorney of the High Court, had legal representation throughout the process and had consulted with evidence leaders before providing her testimony.
LEGAL AND PROCEDURAL LIMITATIONS
The committee maintained that it does not have the authority to remove evidence from its official record. Tetyana warned that granting such a request could set a precedent, potentially undermining the integrity of the committee’s work.
He added that only a court of law has the power to compel the committee to discard evidence.
MPs DISMISS CLAIMS OF COERCION
ANC MP Khusela Sangoni-Diko said there is no provision in parliamentary rules allowing for evidence to be struck from the record. She also noted that Trent had been given an opportunity to pause her testimony but chose to continue.
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach echoed this view, stating that Trent’s only recourse would be to challenge the matter through a legal review.
IFP MP Albert Mncwango rejected claims that Trent had testified under duress, saying she had been allowed time to compose herself before continuing voluntarily.
ADDITIONAL DISPUTES ADDRESSED
The committee also dismissed concerns raised by lawyers representing businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, who challenged the use of WhatsApp messages allegedly extracted from his device.
Tetyana said Matlala had engaged with the evidence voluntarily and in the presence of his legal representative, and had authorised the extraction of data from his phone.
CLOSED SESSION FOR INTELLIGENCE REPORT
Meanwhile, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has agreed that the committee may review a classified report by suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel in a closed session.
The report is said to cover matters related to Crime Intelligence properties and security clearance issues involving senior officials.
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