The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was supposed to be the answer to the wave of assassinations that has plagued KwaZulu-Natal for years. However, new data presented to Parliament has revealed a chilling reality: while the task team was operational, the overall murder count in the province actually increased by a staggering 58%. From 4,395 cases in 2018/2019 to nearly 7,000 by 2022/2023, the bloodshed has only intensified.
This raises a haunting question: was the PKTT a genuine effort to stop the killings, or was it a multi-million rand smoke screen?
The investigation into the PKTT’s performance has uncovered a massive disconnect between its reported successes and the reality on the ground. While the unit secured some high-profile convictions, the broader public safety outcomes in KZN have continued to deteriorate.
Investigative researchers suggest that the PKTT’s narrow focus on politically motivated killings may have allowed other forms of violent crime to flourish. Furthermore, the cumulative cost of the unit, which approached R460 million excluding salaries, has been criticised as a poor investment given the escalating murder rates.
The controversy surrounding the PKTT is further complicated by allegations of political interference. Some believe the unit was used to target political rivals rather than to genuinely investigate all political murders.
This "factional policing" has only served to deepen the divisions within the province, making it even harder to achieve lasting peace. The Madlanga Commission has already flagged several senior officials for their roles in this policing crisis, and the Ad Hoc committee is now trying to untangle the web of influence that led to the unit’s eventual disbandment.
For the families of the victims in KZN, the failure of the PKTT is a devastating betrayal. They were promised justice, but instead, they have seen their communities become even more dangerous.
The surge in political murders is a stark reminder that specialised task teams are not a silver bullet for systemic policing failures. Without a fundamental overhaul of the SAPS and a commitment to merit-based appointments, the blood will continue to flow in the streets of KwaZulu-Natal.
The PKTT may be gone, but the nightmare for Mzansi’s most violent province is far from over.
The investigation has also highlighted the role of "hitmen for hire" who operate with vterrifying ease in KZN. These professional killers are often linked to taxi associations or lo cal political cartels, and they are frequently protected by corrupt elements within the police.
The PKTT's inability to dismantle these networks suggests that the problem is far deeper than just a few "rotten apples."
It is a systemic failure of intelligence and enforcement. Investigative sources indicate that many of the weapons used in these assassinations are actually sourced from police armouries, a shocking revelation that points to a direct link between the state and the killers.
The R460 million spent on the PKTT appears to have done little to break this cycle of violence. Instead, it may have simply provided a veneer of action while the underlying causes of the bloodshed remained unaddressed.
The people of KZN are tired of task teams and commissions; they want a police force that actually protects them. The failure of the PKTT is a failure of the South African state to uphold its most basic duty: the protection of its citizens.
The bloodshed in KwaZulu-Natal is a stain on the nation's conscience, a reminder of the high price of political instability and corruption.
The families of the victims deserve more than just another commission; they deserve a justice system that actually works.
The surge in murders despite the presence of a specialized task team is a clear indication that the current approach is not working.
We need a fundamental shift in how we address political violence, one that focuses on the root causes rather than just the symptoms.
The PKTT may have been a well-intentioned effort, but its failure has left a vacuum that is being filled by even more violence. The time for excuses is over; the people of KZN need real action, and they need it now.
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