By Bongiwe Dlamini

MBABANE:National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola told the Madlanga Commission into police corruption on Monday that the directive by suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband a task team on political killings was an overreach and disruptive, the Mail and Guardian reported on Tuesday morning.

It has been reported that, Masemola said he disagreed with the instruction to “immediately” disband the team, and instead advised Mchunu to implement a phased, gradual wind-down if disbandment was unavoidable.

“The task team was established in 2018 to deal with politically motivated murders, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. It played a central role in prosecuting cases linked to election-related violence and political rivalry. President Cyril Ramaphosa set up the Commission chaired by retired Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga after KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made allegations of corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system which implicated Mchunu. Masemola said efforts to convince Mchunu-who has since been suspended but denies wrongdoing-of the importance of the task team failed. He escalated the matter to Ramaphosa, who only responded that he would speak to Mchunu”, reads the Mail and Guardian reported in part.

When asked by Madlanga why he advised Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to implement a phased out approach instead, Masemola said although he disagreed with the decision he could not take his own Minister to court. 

“It is important to note that the(task team) had proven to be an essential unit in managing political related cases particularly during periods of heightened tensions such as election cycles. 

The abrupt directive to disband the unit not only disregarded ongoing investigation processes but also undermined the collaborative efforts that were in place to ensure justice and stability in affected regions,” Masemola said.