SAPS CFO shocked with how Mchunu relied on her note to dismantle elite unit

SAPS’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane expressed shock with how Police Minister Senzo Mchunu used her information note as one of the reasons for the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Rather than calling for the disbandment of the PKTT, Dimpane said she had advocated that a study be conducted to determine whether it should be made a permanent structure.

Mchunu, who has since been placed on enforced leave, previously made reference to the information note when he appeared before the the the Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by the South African Police Service (SAPS) KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Head, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mchunu’s disbandment of the PKTT is among other issues the committee is investigating. 

Testifying before the same committee on Tuesday, Dimpane said she had not given anyone permission to utilise that information note. 

“I was shocked to hear about that information note being utilised as evidence in this regard, and nobody has ever asked me about the context of that particular comment that I had made on this information note. Nobody.”

Dimpane explained that the request for funding was made by the PKTT project leader, and was submitted in March, just before the end of the financial year.

“This (information note) is a conversation that I had with the national commissioner, where I made several observations and comments, and I was shocked when this information note was utilised as evidence and trying to portray a picture as if I was advocating for the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team.

“It is taken out of context, then I believe that this is not an important platform to deal with the context in terms of this information note. I wish to say that I did not give anyone permission to use that or give anyone the physical document to use in their evidence.”

She explained that she was drawing attention to the fact that the PKTT had been in existence for five years and that “given the ongoing need as well as to ensure proper planning, budgeting, accountability and proper resource allocation, it might be necessary to prepare a work study to establish a permanent structure”. 

Dimpane said that she remains unsure how Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya were able to receive her information note.

She also confirmed that a forensic investigation is under way into the SAPS tender  awarded controversial tenderpreneur and attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala and is nearing conclusion, with a report expected in December.

Cape Times