Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is facing serious findings from evidence leaders in Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of police corruption.
The committee met on Thursday evening to receive a draft report from the evidence leaders. Advocate Norman Arendse presented the report, which found that Mchunu issued a directive on 31 December 2024 to disband the political killings task team, known as the PKTT.
The report found that Mchunu issued the directive without consulting key officials.
These included the national commissioner, the president, the National Prosecuting Authority, the State Security Agency and the civilian secretariat.
Officials Learned About it Online
Several senior officials previously told the committee they found out about the disbandment through social media.
This included KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Elaine Harrison, Deputy Police Ministers Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo, suspended National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The report described the matter as a “serious and multilayered institutional crisis”.
It also found that the directive was sent to a subordinate officer instead of the national commissioner, who was on leave at the time.
Reasons Questioned by Report
Mchunu’s directive stated that the PKTT was no longer necessary and did not add value to policing in South Africa.
However, the report criticised him for giving more detailed reasons only later in Parliament.
These reasons included budget concerns, complaints from Mary de Haas, messages from former SAPS official Patricia Mashale, media reports linked to the Sindiso Magaqa murder investigation and a complaint from MP Fadiel Adams.
The report found that Mchunu contradicted his own reasons during his testimony.
It also said there was a credible basis to infer that the disbandment may have been influenced by the PKTT’s success in assisting a Gauteng counter-intelligence operation involving a criminal syndicate and law enforcement officials.
Ramaphosa Did Not Approve Decision
The report further found that Mchunu misrepresented his discussion with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
It said Ramaphosa did not approve or sanction the disbandment.
Evidence leaders found that Ramaphosa’s decision to establish the Madlanga Commission, place Mchunu on special leave and appoint an acting minister was constitutionally grounded.
The report recommended that the PKTT continue and be strengthened. It also recommended that a similar team be established in Gauteng.
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