“‘I Had To Protect Them’: Senzo Mchunu Explains Why He Kept Masemola In The Dark On PKTT”

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has shed light on why he chose not to engage directly with National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola before dissolving the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Testifying before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Police Corruption, Mchunu said several PKTT members had privately approached him with serious concerns about the unit’s management.

“Many members of the PKTT sent me messages asking to meet privately to raise issues with how it was being run,” he stated.

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He explained that his main priority was to protect the safety and identities of the officers who had reached out to him. “I sensed something was wrong, and I wanted to protect the officers that approached me,” Mchunu told the committee.

According to Mchunu, the reported issues involved sensitive human resource and operational matters that, if ignored, could harm the integrity of investigations and compromise justice.

“The way they practice and handle matters has the potential — if not dealt with expeditiously — to damage the unit’s reputation and ultimately defeat the ends of justice,” he warned.

Internal Complaints Prompted Urgent Action

In response to the concerns, Mchunu convened a meeting on 21 November 2024 to discuss the officers’ complaints and develop potential solutions.

“We discussed issues, including personnel problems, and began allocating resources to address these problems. I convinced them of the importance of engaging the National Commissioner on these matters,” he said.

However, Mchunu admitted that finalising the details of his engagement with Masemola took time. “Because we didn’t discuss the nature of that engagement in detail, I was left to determine how to proceed. It took some time before I was satisfied with the process,” he explained.

He stressed that his hesitation was not rooted in mistrust toward the Commissioner but rather in his commitment to protecting those who had confided in him. “Due to their safety, I was influenced not to go to the National Commissioner. It had nothing to do with trust,” he clarified.

Decision to Disband PKTT Made Independently

Reflecting on the unit’s performance at the end of 2024, Mchunu concluded that the PKTT was not meeting expectations. He said he spent time in his rural hometown reflecting before deciding to disband the unit.

“I sat alone and wrote that letter myself. It reflected my assessment of the work and the issues,” Mchunu asserted, dismissing claims that others had drafted the directive.

He said he planned to introduce a neutral inquiry mechanism to allow officers who raised complaints to testify safely. “I didn’t want to speak on their behalf. If they were lying to me, they would also lie to others. They must come and say these things live,” he told the committee.

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Citing Section 206(1) of the Constitution, Mchunu defended his authority to issue the directive, noting that the minister is empowered to determine national policing policy in consultation with provinces.

“The Constitution clearly allows the minister to determine policy and give directions to the National Commissioner, who manages and controls the police service. My directives were issued in line with this responsibility,” Mchunu said.

He concluded by taking full responsibility for the decision, saying it was made to improve policing outcomes and strengthen public safety across South Africa.

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