Mkhwanazi accuses police Deputy Commissioner of being behind directive to disband Political Killings Task Team

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has accused the SAPS Deputy Commissioner of being the real author of the directive issued by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) last December.

Testifying before the parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi also said the now suspended Shadrack Sibiya had instructed a Deputy Minister to manage and remove Sibiya's uncooperative boss, police National Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

He said Sibiya had sent whatsapp message to the Deputy Minister informing him or her of spyware procured by the Crime Intelligence unit to the tune of R13 million, without following supply chain management processes.

In his message he stated that only Mchunu was authorised to sign for any contract worth more than R10m.

According to Mkhwanazi, Sibiya had mentioned briefing a 'Comrade Mathebula' about the matter.

“He goes further to say my suggestion is that we should commit the National Commissioner (Masemola) to this. He needs to come out, whether he knows or not, and (Masemola) must be investigated over why the minister was not informed,” Mkhwanazi said, adding that Sibiya had instructed that the investigation be done over seven days.

Mkhwanazi, responding to questions from IFP MP Albert Mncwango, said Sibiya had elevated himself to an executive authority.

“I strongly believe the compiler of the letter to disestablish this team is not done by the Minister (Mchunu), probably the same person we talk about is the one behind the letter."

Earlier Mkhwanazi told the inquiry that he has evidence that junior members of the police were communicating with the executive (a Deputy Minister) on how to manage Masemola.

Mkhwanazi said in a recent meeting with Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia, he had told him that he suspected two people.

“I said it, they can't deny it. They will concur. We will establish who this Deputy Minister is,” he said when responding to MK party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo.

Mkhwanazi had also told the MPs that Mchunu had not consulted him, Masemola or Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo about disbanding the PKTT.

He also said he had not asked for a performance report on the task team.

Mkhwanazi added that there was a possibility that Sibiya had briefed Mchunu.

“I am not saying (it outright) but there is a possibility that he would be briefed by him, by a person who claims 'I am in charge of investigations in the country and I’m briefing you, here is the position'.”

Meanwhile, the KZN police commissioner outlined the smear campaign aimed at destroying Khumalo.

Mkhwanazi said  the arrest of Khumalo was part of the project to stop criminal investigations into drug cartels in Gauteng.

“I did indicate there is a sensitive project within intelligence. It involves intelligence of the country.”

Mkhwanazi said Khumalo faced attacks on two fronts, from the drug cartels in Gauteng and within the Crime Intelligence from those who resisted reforms.

Asked about attempt to link Khumalo to the murder of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, Mkhwanazi said the narrative was to taint him as a bad person and that the PKTT was full of bad people.

He said there were people who wanted to justify the need to disband the task team.

“It was a smear campaign to destroy the image of Khumalo and dent the workings of PKTT,” he said.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za