Opposition parties on Friday refused to elect the chair of the new parliamentary committee on the Nkandla controversy until its mandate had been clarified to ensure the public protector's report is not sidelined.

Democratic Alliance MP James Selfe said the opposition agreed beforehand to argue that "at the heart of it is the public protector's report and we need to be absolutely certain that all relevant documentation will be consulted".

Economic...read more here: Nkandla committee battle