Madlanga Commission | KZN NPA head criticises lack of communication over PKTT disbandment

KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head, Elaine Harrison said her office was never formally informed of the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), saying she would have objected to the decision because of the team’s good work.

Harrison told the Madlanga Commission on Friday that she only learned of the move on social media.

“I heard about the disestablishment of the KZN political killings task team through the media,” she said.

“At that time, I said it was fake news. It was floating on social media.”

At the time of the reports, Harrison was on leave.

The first formal communication she received was on May 25, in a letter from KZN police commissioner, Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, regarding the transfer of 121 politically sensitive case dockets to the SAPS national office in Pretoria — not about the dissolution of the task team.

Harrison directly contradicted Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s previous remarks suggesting that the task team's work had run its course.

She said the team was doing a wonderful job.

She also raised alarms about the lack of prosecutorial oversight in the transfer of the dockets, saying her office was not consulted and that the relocation of cases could jeopardise ongoing investigations.

In his letter, Mkhwanazi admitted the KZN police office had failed to act on J50 warrants — orders to bring suspects before court — in the dockets now moved to Pretoria.

The letter said this failure stemmed from a "telephonic instruction" received by the PKTT’s leader.

“This office wishes to apologise for the failure in executing J50 warrants in dockets among the 121 case dockets,” Mkhwanazi wrote, adding that the whereabouts of the dockets were being investigated and findings would be shared.

However, the letter made no mention of the task team's official disbandment.

In her response, Harrison pressed for clarity, asking directly whether the PKTT had been dissolved.

“There have been several media reports where it's been noted that the PKTT has been disbanded. There has been no formal communication to the office of the national director of public prosecutions and my office on this issue.

“It is concerning that this office remains unsure of what the position is regarding the existence of the team.”

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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