Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu faced intense scrutiny before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating the controversial disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). On the ninth day of hearings, Mchunu sought to clarify his actions and respond to pointed questions from Members of Parliament, sparking heated debate about potential political interference within police operations.
The committee was formed following serious allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July, who accused a sophisticated crime syndicate of infiltrating numerous law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Mkhwanazi further alleged that Mchunu disbanded the PKTT to protect suspected criminals.
Here are five key highlights from Mchunu's testimony:
1. Lack of Audio Evidence of Threats from Mkhwanazi
Mchunu conceded that he does not possess an audio recording of alleged threats from Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, despite earlier claims. He had previously stated that he instructed his chief of staff to record all conversations with Mkhwanazi due to threatening remarks made after the disbandment of the PKTT.
Under questioning from ANC MP Xola Nqola, Mchunu clarified that the audio evidence primarily contained discussions about whether he was "clean," rather than the threats themselves. "The part I was interested in—where threatening statements were allegedly made—was actually a reference made before the start of the recording," he explained.
2. Dissolution of Inter-ministerial Committees Pre-2024
Mchunu asserted that all Inter-ministerial Committees and Task Teams established before the new 2024 administration are automatically dissolved, including those addressing political killings. This statement drew immediate criticism from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who challenged the legality of such a blanket dissolution.
Mchunu maintained, "In the 7th administration, we have no interministerial committees on political killings," adding that he is not responsible for their non-existence.
3. Denial of Personal Connection to Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala
Despite producing an affidavit obtained from Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala—an alleged criminal with links to assassination networks—Mchunu vehemently denied any personal association with him.
When Malema questioned why he would seek a statement from someone he had never met and who was implicated in a crime, Mchunu responded, "I don’t know Matlala. My lawyers obtained the affidavit without direct contact as part of my defence against allegations linking me to criminal syndicates."
He added, "I wanted clarification to address claims about my lifestyle and supposed connections with Masemola. But I have no evidence linking me to them."
4. Confirmation of Text Messages from Brown Mogotsi
Mchunu confirmed that he received text messages from Brown Mogotsi, an alleged associate whose name surfaced during the Madlanga Commission inquiry in September. The messages examined by the Committee suggested connections between Mogotsi, Mchunu, and Matlala, who has been convicted of attempted murder.
Acknowledging receipt of the messages, Mchunu stated, "I never responded because I didn’t understand what he was referring to." Mogotsi's message implied plans to use court rulings to bring charges against senior police officials, but Mchunu distanced himself from these communications, claiming a lack of understanding and involvement.
5. Distancing Himself from Docket Removal
Mchunu strongly denied any involvement in the controversial removal of 121 case dockets related to political killings, asserting that his directive to disband the PKTT did not address the handling of dockets.
This contradicts testimony from Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, who claimed he removed the dockets to comply with Mchunu’s order.
Mchunu clarified, "There was no word, no word at all, about dockets in my directive," emphasising that his disbandment decision was purely administrative and not intended to protect criminal networks.
Sibiya has labelled the allegations of collusion with criminal syndicates as “baseless,” framing the crisis as part of an internal power struggle within the police leadership following explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Mkhwanazi. The Ad Hoc Committee's investigation continues to unfold, with further testimonies expected to shed more light on the complex issues surrounding the disbandment of the PKTT and the allegations of criminal infiltration within the police service.
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