RESPONSE TO MR O'SULLIVAN CLAIM Ordinarily, as a special adviser to the President of the Republic, I received both solicited and unsolicited advice from third parties, which is a normal part of my official role and helps clarify the context. On matters such as the President's upcoming appointments or the search for suitable candidates, I would receive a barrage of suggestions. These would include reasoned submissions that people hoped would influence the President's decisions. This is to put on record that it is not unusual for me to receive third-party advice on certain matters the President needed to consider, including decisions. It was part of my job. Regarding the issue raised by Mr Paul O'Sullivan at the ad hoc committee, the following account aims to clarify the facts and address concerns. 1.   It was publicly known that there was a shortlist for the position of SAPS Commissioner following the vacancy created. 2.   While I was approached by several lobbyists trying to influence the President's decision, I maintained the integrity of the process and did not allow undue influence to sway the outcome. 3.   Mr O' Sullivan was one of the people who approached me, almost to the point of stalking and harassing me, to influence, as though I could, the process in favour of a candidate he or his 'community' wanted. 4.   In his submissions, which he said at the hearing he might make available, he intimated that most of the candidates in the short list were corrupt and thus compromised. 5.   Only two candidates were, according to him, fit for the position. One of those he proposed was not even on the shortlist. 6.   The process was transparent and proper, as confirmed by the panel that reviewed the candidates, which should reassure South Africa of its integrity. Let me conclude by putting it on record that I did not solicit Mr O’Sullivan’s involvement. I challenged his blanket accusation that all candidates are corrupt and asked him to produce any supporting evidence. Kanimambo