Mchunu throws police boss Masemola under bus at Madlanga

POLICE Minister Senzo Mchunu appeared to be shifting the blame to National SAPS Commissioner General Fannie Masemola for his controversial decision to discontinue the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). 

He claimed the decision would have not been necessary if Masemola had approved the new organisational structure based on the 2019 work study, which would have resulted in the PKTT being dismantled in March 2024. 

His decision to write a letter dated December 31, 2024, ordering the disbandment of the PKTT, has come under sharp criticism from KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who testified at the commission on September 17.

The letter in question stated that the task team was not adding value to the policing work.

According to Mkhwanazi, Mchunu’s conclusion that the team does not add any value to policing in South Africa “was misplaced”.

Masemola had also testified that he deemed as “unlawful” Mchunu’s directive to disband the PKTT, saying he reached out to President Cyril Ramaphosa for intervention.

“The president did come back to me to say he talked to Mchunu, but did not tell me about the outcome,” he said during his testimony three months ago.

Testifying before the Madlanga commission of inquiry on Tuesday, Mchunu, who is on enforced leave, denied interfering in operational policing matters, saying the PKTT was a temporary project established in 2018 by Ramaphosa to address politically motivated killings in KwaZulu-Natal. 

During his orientation as police minister, Mchunu said he raised concerns about Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo's dual roles as PKTT head and Crime Intelligence boss.

“I raised the concern, and not necessarily because of the load (of work), but the role Crime Intelligence played in the country. It is critical in assisting police in fighting crime,” he said.

Mchunu stated that his focus in the ministry is on governance and systemic issues, specifically budgetary concerns and budget allocation considerations.

“By late 2024, the national operational centre was required to absorb the national PKTT cost amounting to R94 million for the 2024/25 financial year,” he said.

Mchunu stated that the PKTT had not received any extensions beyond 2022, despite operating for over two years without the required assessment. He said this rendered the expenditure irregular under the Public Finance Management Act.

He said the 2019 work study, which was translated into organisational structure, “effectively de-established the PKTT and established a single murder and robbery unit”.  

Mchunu said Masemola, on June 5, 2024, signed off on the work study with an instruction that implementation must be expedited. 

Mchunu’s testimony is expected to resume on Thursday.

Cape Times