The Madlanga Commission is expected to conclude its week-long examination of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Anti-Corruption Task Team (IDAC) and its leadership on Friday after commissioners questioned whether one of its investigations exceeded the unit's legal mandate.
Thursday's proceedings centred on the testimony of IDAC investigator Brian Padayachee, who faced extensive questioning over his investigation into senior Crime Intelligence officials within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Commissioners repeatedly challenged Padayachee on why his investigation extended to matters relating to SAPS human resources, particularly the composition of an interview panel involved in the appointment of a senior official.
Padayachee defended his approach, arguing that the inclusion of candidates with qualifications in law, public administration, management and criminology on the interview panel resulted in what he described as an appointment process that appeared "glaringly abnormal."
He maintained that officials from within the Crime Intelligence division would have been better suited to participate in the recruitment process.
However, commissioners questioned whether IDAC had any legal authority to scrutinise SAPS recruitment procedures, suggesting that the investigation had moved beyond allegations of corruption and into internal human resources matters.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi told Padayachee that while aspects of the recruitment process might appear unusual, the central issue was whether IDAC had the mandate to determine how SAPS should structure its recruitment processes, including job advertisements and interview panels.
Commission Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga echoed those concerns, telling Padayachee that the more he explained his reasoning, the more the investigation appeared to amount to interference in an internal human resources matter.
"The more you explain yourself, Colonel, the more all of this sounds like meddling in an HR matter," Madlanga remarked during the hearing.
The commission is expected to conclude its examination of IDAC and its leadership during Friday's proceedings before moving on to the next phase of its inquiry.