Mchunu faces Parliament over political interference claims
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is appearing before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Thursday to answer allegations of interference and corruption within the criminal justice system.
Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane confirmed Mchunu will testify over two days to respond to claims made against him by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
Mchunu was placed on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa after both officers accused him of overstepping his mandate and undermining police operations, particularly his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in KwaZulu-Natal.
During his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Mkhwanazi said Mchunu’s decision to dissolve the task team was influenced by “outside forces” linked to criminal networks.
He described the move as misguided and warned it weakened one of the country’s most effective investigative units.
Mkhwanazi told the commission that Mchunu never met with him to discuss the task team’s work, despite several attempts to arrange a briefing.
He said the directive to shut down the PKTT came abruptly and appeared to target the unit specifically, while other special operations continued.
“The decision disrupted coordination and progress in political killing investigations,” Mkhwanazi testified, adding that he believed the minister’s actions were influenced by individuals connected to organised crime.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola echoed those concerns, telling the commission that Mchunu’s order went beyond his constitutional powers and amounted to political interference in police operations.
Masemola said the minister’s directive came without any consultation or explanation, despite previously supporting the team’s work.
He revealed that the PKTT continued operating discreetly on major investigations across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, including cases linked to alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala
The commissioner said he escalated the matter to President Ramaphosa, warning that Mchunu’s interference violated the principle of operational independence in the police service.
“If the minister had concerns, he could have raised them for discussion,” Masemola told the commission. “But to go further and say, ‘Disband now, now, now,’ is total encroachment.”
Mchunu’s upcoming appearance before Parliament is expected to shed light on his decision-making and his response to the serious claims made by the country’s top police officials.
The ad hoc committee has so far heard evidence from Mkhwanazi, Masemola and Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya
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