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Don’t make me feel guilty for not consulting on disbanding PKTT, Mchunu tells Committee

Thabo Makwakwa|Published

Suspended Police Minister Mchunu Defends Decision to Shut Down Political Killings Task Team

Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said that he was not required to consult others before shutting down the unit, the Political Killings Task Team Crime (PKTT). 

Mchunu resisted when probed by evidence leader Adv Norman Arendse about whether he acted unilaterally or irresponsibly.

“Don’t make me feel guilty because I’m not guilty for that,” Mchunu declared emphatically, addressing the evidence leader pressing him for explanations on why other security cluster ministers, the police National Commissioner, or even the President were not consulted before he issued his directive.

The committee was established to investigate explosive claims brought forward by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, with the aim of unpacking a scandal that threatens to undermine trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and related institutions.

Mchunu told the committee that his decision was driven by numerous urgent concerns raised by senior figures including Mary De Haas and Patricia Mashabela, as well as members of the PKTT itself, which weighed heavily on his mind and “gave me sleepless nights.”

“I was sober when I wrote that letter and I was sober when I did so,” he insisted. “I did not go further into seeking advice other than that of the special advisor.” He stressed that it was a work directive: “I expected it to be dealt with as a work matter.”

Pressed on why he did not involve the National Commissioner or other authorities given the serious criminal concerns, Mchunu said he had held more than 28 meetings with police management before his suspension but could not discuss the PKTT with others 

“because how do I on one hand bring them on board and on the other hand close the situation which was convincing to me?”

He conveyed a deep frustration with the perception that the police service was not doing enough to address safety in South Africa, describing the challenges as “huge” and acknowledging the expectations on him as a minister.

Mchunu also conceded an error when asked why certain information was included in documents but not clarified, but maintained that his directive was not unlawful or beyond his mandate.

Mchunu’s testimony is set to continue as the committee probes further into the circumstances that led to the disbanding of the PKTT and the state of policing in South Africa.

thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za

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