Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan has testified before a parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating allegations of a cartel infiltrating South Africa’s criminal justice system, asserting he has never been involved in intelligence activities, despite past work in law enforcement. The committee is investigating accusations initially made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July 2025.
O’Sullivan told the committee on February 10, 2026, that he had not been involved in any intelligence work “in any way, shape or form” since arriving in South Africa. This denial comes amid scrutiny of his background and allegations of prior intelligence affiliations. He also expressed skepticism about the motives of Commissioner Mkhwanazi, stating he did not believe the policeman was acting with honest intent.
The controversy surrounding O’Sullivan’s past has intensified in recent weeks. Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has alleged a coordinated campaign, involving former IPID head Robert McBride and O’Sullivan, aimed at discrediting him. Phahlane detailed the creation of a “Phahlane Task Team” allegedly designed to damage his reputation through public accusations and media leaks, rather than through formal legal processes. He stated that investigators repeatedly requested O’Sullivan to provide a sworn affidavit to support the allegations made against him, but O’Sullivan never complied.
According to Phahlane’s testimony on January 15, 2026, the campaign relied on “investigative theatrics” and lacked substantial evidence. Despite multiple investigations being opened, no formal affidavit was ever submitted by O’Sullivan. Phahlane was suspended in 2017 amid corruption allegations, including claims of receiving luxury vehicles and a sound system from a service provider.
Whereas O’Sullivan has denied involvement with South Africa’s intelligence services, both pre- and post-democracy, reports from February 11, 2026, indicate he worked for British military intelligence in the 1970s, conducting counterespionage and counter-intelligence operations against the Irish Republican Army. O’Sullivan has not publicly addressed these specific claims regarding his work with British intelligence.
O’Sullivan has also alleged that a “slush fund” within Crime Intelligence is the “root of all evil” within the South African police service. He has claimed to have been the target of approximately ten attempts on his life over the past fifteen years, a claim he presented to the ad hoc committee.
Arendse, whose affiliation was not specified, stated that O’Sullivan’s denials did not “dispel” suspicions of his involvement in intelligence activities. The ad hoc committee is scheduled to continue its investigation into the alleged cartel and the accusations surrounding O’Sullivan and other key figures.
