Masemola denies disbanding political killings task team
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says he has never signed off on the disbandment of the political killings task team, despite the directive from the police minister.
In January, Mchunu wrote to Masemola directing him to dissolve the team.
At the time, the minister said the task team, which was established in 2019 following recommendations by the Moerane Commission, was not effectively contributing to policing in the province.
On Wednesday, Masemola confirmed he had not enacted the directive.
“I am sure that you have not seen any letter that I have signed to close the unit. I have not signed it, and I don’t think anyone has ever seen a letter where I have signed off on the closure of the unit.”
In his letter to Masemola, Mchunu stated: "My observation in this regard is that the further existence of this team is no longer required nor is it adding any value to policing. I therefore direct that the political killings task team be disestablished immediately. Further, a preliminary report in this regard is submitted to the minister."
However, in his explosive press briefing on Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi lauded the work of the task team.
“As a result of the excellent work done by this unit, the political killings task team has been assigned to other presidential projects, like the killing of traditional leaders in KZN and the murders that happened in the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape.
“Since its establishment, the team has been investigating a total of 612 case dockets. These include murders, attempted murders, intimidation, conspiracy to commit murders, and other cases.”
He said 128 accused were found guilty in 106 cases, and out of those, 29 were sentenced to life in prison.
The latest success attributed to the task team is the confession and sentencing of slain African National Congress Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa's killer, Sibusiso Ncengwa.
READ: Sindiso Magaqa killer handed two life terms
Magaqa was ambushed at Ibisi Village in uMzimkhulu in July 2017, along with two councillors, Jabulile Mzizi and Nontsikelelo Mafa, and their driver. The other three survived the attack.
According to the provincial commissioner, more than 400 suspects have been arrested and charged as a result of the team’s work.
“An additional 35 suspects, who are members of the South African Police Service, were arrested. The notable one is the one who is in prison and was working with the Parliamentarian about the murder of one Sindi Magaqa.”
Mkhwanazi went on to make the damning claim that over 100 dockets that were under investigation were taken away from the task team in March this year under the instruction of the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
He said this, and the move to disband the team was made without consulting him or Masemola.
Sibiya has vehemently denied the claims against him.
When asked about the dockets Mkhwanazi claims are sitting redundant on Sibiya's desk, Masemola said: " I think you have seen in the media, it is a to-and-fro. We'd rather leave that space. As the president said, he will intervene, let him intervene, and those will be matters that are subject to investigation."
The national commissioner said they will brief President Cyril Ramaphosa on the developments.
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