National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola has accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of shutting down the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) to protect criminal cartels in Gauteng.

The Witness reports that, testifying before the Madlanga Commission yesterday, Masemola said Mchunu had never presented any reasonable argument to counter the task team’s successes before ordering its disbandment.

In a letter dated December 31, 2024, Mchunu wrote that the PKTT was not ‘adding any value to policing in South Africa’ and directed its closure.

Masemola used much of his testimony to criticise Mchunu and his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, alleging inappropriate links with criminal figures.

He claimed that Mchunu acted on the advice of his associate, Brown Mogotsi, who had ties to alleged hitman Vusumuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

However, Masemola also acknowledged that Mchunu had previously raised concerns about a R50m SAPS contract awarded to Matlala after it was reported by News24.

Asked to explain the contradiction, Masemola admitted he had no clear knowledge but suggested the minister may not have known of Matlala’s involvement in the contract when he raised the alarm.

Commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi asked Masemola directly: “Did the minister present any document that countered what you were saying about the task team and its successes?”

Masemola replied: “No, commissioner, he never produced or presented anything that would counter. And even what informed him to come to the decision, he wouldn’t produce that. He said that after 1994, it’s just murders that are happening, not political killings. There was no document that he produced or any presentation whatsoever.”

The PKTT, which investigated political murders including the killing of uMngeni DA councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu in December 2023, has faced criticism from several quarters.

National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams labelled it ‘nothing more than a terror group’ during parliamentary debates, while AfriForum described it as ‘useless’.

Masemola told the commission that AfriForum had complained about not receiving case updates, despite being contracted by the uMngeni Local Municipality to conduct a private investigation into Ndlovu’s death.

“They were saying they were not getting a briefing from the political police task team, and they think the team don’t know what they are doing,” he said.

“We couldn’t really go out and brief AfriForum on everything, because we knew what we were doing. We have a direct link with the widow of councillor Ndlovu. If we ever need to provide her with feedback, we will be able to do so.”

The commission previously heard that violence monitor Mary de Haas had long been vocal in calling for the team’s closure.

In December 2024, she suggested reintegrating its investigators into existing detective units and urged the establishment of a judicial oversight body to review its cases.

De Haas argued that the task team had consumed significant resources for six years without tangible results, and may even have shielded political figures. She further demanded an audit of its funding.

On the first day of the inquiry, however, KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi defended the PKTT.

“This is one team that has been successful, and for it to get this kind of [disbandment] letter didn’t make sense. I believe someone influenced the minister to make this decision.”

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