Cele slams Mchunu over disbandment of PKTT
Former police minister Bheki Cele has criticised the decision by his successor, Senzo Mchunu, to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), describing the move as procedurally flawed and ill-considered.
Cele made the remarks while testifying before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Allegations of Interference and Corruption within the Criminal Justice System, where he also raised concerns about systemic weaknesses frustrating police work, including the country’s bail system.
He said one of the biggest frustrations facing members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the ease with which repeat offenders are granted bail, even in serious or violent cases.
"There are things that frustrate you if you work with the police.
"One major problem for the police is something called bail. That thing is a mess. You find suspects arrested for serious crimes — armed robberies, cash-in-transit heists — and yet they are repeatedly granted bail and go back to commit the same offences."
He cited the example of Fisokuhle Ntuli, accused number five in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial who, despite being convicted of six life sentences in other cases, was granted bail pending appeal.
"Ntuli was found guilty and sentenced, but got the right to appeal — and was given bail, when he has been found guilty and sentenced to six life sentences, still given bail. This is a problem for the police, but we’re told it’s a constitutional right,” Cele told MPs.
Cele questions legality of Mchunu’s decision
Turning to the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, Cele said Mchunu should have consulted with the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that initially established the unit under the presidency.
Mchunu has since been placed on special leave.
"In my view, the PKTT was established by the IMC under the leadership of the President, and therefore only the IMC could disestablish it,” Cele said.
"The minister of police had to consult with the IMC before deciding to disband it. Procedurally, I do not agree with how it came through — it should have been reversed the same way back."
Cele maintained that the IMC’s existence continued into the seventh administration, regardless of ministerial changes.
He argued that Mchunu’s unilateral decision undermined established government processes and coordination within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.
Cele defends cost of specialised police operations
Addressing questions about the cost of the disbanded task team, Cele dismissed claims that it was a financial burden, saying similar operations around the country — including Operation Operation Mgodi we mvumbu in KwaZulu-Natal and Operation Thunder in Cape Town — also require significant budgets.
"It cannot be a question of money, but a question of safety.
"If your measurement is one person dying, then why not withdraw security from other units where no one has died? You don’t kill where you have established excellence."
Cele argued that effective operations should be expanded, not cut back, saying the Political Killings Task Team had been a centre of excellence in investigating politically motivated murders.
