DA Parliamentarian Damien Klopper has shed some light on the mammoth task resting on his shoulders as a member of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee into the collapse of the criminal justice system.

Damien serves on the justice portfolio committee in Parliament, where he’s also the DA’s deputy spokesman on justice.

He has been called to sit on Parliament’s joint committee, which is running its own investigation, parallel to the Madlanga Commission, which started with the public hearings on September 17.

Klopper said the committee only left its hearings around 23:00 on Monday, with 12-hour sittings on the cards for the foreseeable future.

On July 6, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi caused tremors in the security cluster with allegations that the country’s criminal justice system was compromised because of the infiltration of criminal syndicates into police, judicial, parliamentary, political, intelligence, and other law enforcement structures, such as Metro forces.

The Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee was established in July to probe Mkhwanazi’s whistleblowing, with Mkhwanazi called to testify first.

National Police Commissioner Fani Masemola followed Mkhwanazi’s testimony with suspended deputy commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya in the hot seat on Tuesday.

Klopper said the floor was opened for parliamentarians during Tuesday’s continuance, to ask questions based on Monday’s testimony.

He had 30 minutes to probe Sibiya on allegations that he was instrumental in disbanding KZN’s political assassination task team.

Sibiya’s home was also raided on Thursday.

Sibiya staunchly denies any involvement with the Big Five cartel, going as far as to deny the cartel’s existence.

He staunchly denies the allegations.

It is alleged that Sibiya tried to hijack the squad by replacing Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo of the Political Killings Task Team with another general, to undermine the unit and sate the criminal network.

Klopper said ahead of print that the next line of witnesses has not been formally announced.

According to Klopper, he experienced firsthand how frustrating the criminal justice system is for normal South Africans, with Klopper recently testifying as key witness in an armed robbery, attempted murder and illegal weapons and ammunition trial, in which he, his wife, and 12-year-old daughter were the victims.

The robbery occurred in June 2023 at Midwater’s Ackermans, where the Kloppers were busy shopping when the store was robbed.

Two shots were aimed and fired at Klopper, who disarmed one of the robbers during a violent struggle, in which Klopper’s own weapon was stolen.

Klopper singlehandedly foiled the robbery with three arrests, resulting in a trial, which is set to continue in November.

“Police are there to fight crime and protect us, but who polices the police?” Klopper said, adding, “It is an honour to serve on the committee and represent Middelburg and Mpumalanga.”

Mpumalanga comes next to KZN regarding political assassinations, with many going cold and no arrests.

Klopper arrived home after 01:00 this morning following another marathon sitting.