KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told MPs he believes President Cyril Ramaphosa was unaware of the decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team.
Storm Simpson/News24
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s appearance before the ad hoc committee investigating allegations of a captured justice system has focused largely on the Political Killings Task Team.On the second day of witness hearings,MPs questioned Mkhwanazi on his allegations.The ANC and MK Party were first to start the committee’s interrogation,while the DA and EFF are also expected to question Mkhwanazi.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was in all likelihood not aware of the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
According to KwaZulu-Natal top cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi,the president declared the team did a sterling job after his explosive press conference in July,where he laid bare how criminal syndicates have allegedly infiltrated the police and criminal justice system.
Ramaphosa’s words indicated to Mkhwanazi that the president was not aware of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s intention to disband the PKTT in December 2024.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Wednesday,Mkhwanazi testified before the ad hoc committee established to investigate allegations of the criminal infiltration of the South African Police Service.
MPs had the opportunity to question Mkhwanazi about the allegations he made.
READ | CI boss Khumalo’s arrest a ‘project’ to counter Gauteng crime investigations – Mkhwanazi
MK Party (MKP) MP David Skosana asked whether Ramaphosa has expressed any unhappiness with the PKTT.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I was not informed about the president’s take in terms of the unhappiness with regard to the PKTT. But I want to invite the honourable members to go on YouTube and go and listen to the president when he went to the Northern Cape after my press briefing. He was asked by journalists this question about his views on the PKTT.”
He added:
His word was the PKTT is doing a very good job. So,if it comes from the head of state after my address that the PKTT is doing a good job,then I wonder which president the minister is talking about. Because the president recently said the PKTT is doing a good job.
“So,it makes me believe the president was not even aware about what the minister has decided.”
MKP MP Sibonelo Nomvalo asked Mkhwanazi about the 31 December letter to disband the PKTT and whether the required closing report was submitted.
Mkhwanazi told MPs it was,but he was not privy to that communication.
Continuing his questioning,Nomvalo asked if the PKTT was only dealing with cases allocated to it.
Mkhwanazi said the task team took over cases when it started,and cases were transferred to it.
He reiterated his belief that Mchunu didn’t author the disbandment letter,but he did sign it off.
Mkhwanazi claimed:
Someone wrote this and made the minister to sign.
He alleged that Mchunu’s chief of staff,Cedric Nkabinde,was behind the letter.
He also told the committee that he has evidence that junior police members are communicating with the executive on how to manage the police. He claimed that suspended deputy national commissioner for crime detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya sent a message to a deputy minister,telling them how to hold the national commissioner accountable.
“One of the deputies are part of the problem. I said to their face,” said Mkhwanazi.
He also spoke of Brown Mogotsi,who had access to police information.
FOLLOW IT LIVE | Mkhwanazi wants ‘heavy penalties’,prison for journalists
He described this as a violation of the duty to protect citizens and said Mogotsi had no authority.
“This is the highest infiltration you can think of,” Mkhwanazi said.
“He had claimed to be a politician,and the minister himself claimed to be his comrade. I believe when you say ‘a comrade’,he means he’s a member of his political party. Although,[I’m] surprised of late to learn that,actually,he is no longer a member of the political party. So,I do not know where the word ‘comrade’ came from when the minister said he was a comrade,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
On 6 July,Mkhwanazi held a dramatic press conference,which triggered Ramaphosa placing Mchunu on gardening leave and establishing the commission of inquiry to investigate the capture of the police,chaired by former Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Hearings of the parliamentary ad hoc committee continue.
United News - unews.co.za