KZN Police Chief Accuses State Of Undermining Political Killings Probe Tied To Drug Syndicate

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has made explosive allegations against high-ranking state officials, claiming there is a “deliberate attempt” to dismantle a task team investigating politically motivated killings in the province.

Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Mkhwanazi revealed the task team had uncovered a criminal syndicate allegedly controlled by a drug cartel — one that includes politicians, law enforcement officers, businesspeople, prosecutors, and even members of the judiciary.

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“On December 31, 2024, the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, issued a letter to disband the political killings task team and to suspend the filling of all vacancies within the crime intelligence [division],” Mkhwanazi said.

He added that in the months that followed, the deputy national commissioner for crime detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, issued instructions in January, February, and April to withdraw all dockets related to political killings from the task team and redirect them to his office.

R360m Police Contract Linked to Arrested Suspect

Mkhwanazi revealed that on May 14, the task team arrested Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala on three counts of attempted murder. Matlala, who was awarded a R360 million contract from the police in 2024, is allegedly tied to a broader criminal network being investigated by the task team.

“An analysis was conducted on [the] electronic communication of this syndicate. This analysis reveals communication between the arrested Matlala, Mr Brown Mogotsi — an associate of the Minister of Police — as well as the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu,” Mkhwanazi explained.

He further stated: “Further analysis of the chats indicates Matlala is financially supporting the Minister of Police and Brown Mogotsi’s political endeavours. This is supported by the evidence of conversations and the proof of payments of guests for the January 8 travelling costs and a gala dinner table in Cape Town.”

Despite Setbacks, Task Team Continues Work

The political killings task team was originally formed following the murder of ANC activist Musawenkosi Qashana Mchunu in Plessislaer, KwaZulu-Natal, in May 2018. Since then, it has been tasked with investigating politically motivated violence in the province.

Despite what Mkhwanazi describes as internal efforts to collapse the team, he emphasized that the unit remains active.

“The task team remains operational, albeit attempts to disrupt its work to protect and serve the inhabitants of the republic,” he said.

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