Mkhwanazi Dismisses Claims Political Killings Task Team Was A Political Move

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has dismissed claims that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was established as a political initiative or that its disbandment was a political decision.

Testifying before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Security Matters on Tuesday, Mkhwanazi firmly rejected this view, saying such an argument “won’t stand.”

“I will say they are wrong because a Minister of Police is not a member of a political party. The Minister of Police is an executive member that is appointed in terms of the law of the Republic (and) is a cabinet member responsible for policing,” he said.

Responding to chief evidence leader Norman Arendse, who suggested that some implicated parties might argue the PKTT was politically driven, Mkhwanazi stated:
“To say it was a political decision, what if the minister is not a politician. I don’t think that argument will stand.”

Origins of the Political Killings Task Team

Mkhwanazi explained that the task team was created after President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the home of slain ANC member Musawenkosi Mchunu, who was murdered in Pietermaritzburg in May 2018. Following the visit, Ramaphosa announced the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to address political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.

“It was a direction of the head of state to a group of ministers, and subsequently work was needed and officials had to get busy with,” Mkhwanazi said.

He added that the IMC instructed SAPS management to create a coordinated plan to investigate these killings. The plan, developed by senior officials including Mkhwanazi himself, was approved by the National Police Commissioner and later endorsed by the IMC.

According to Mkhwanazi, the task team regularly updated the IMC, which in turn briefed the media about progress. However, he noted that the IMC had not convened since after the 2024 national elections when new ministers were appointed to the security cluster.

“We don’t know what the reason is,” he added.

Parliamentary Committee Clears Up Supplementary Statement Issues

Mkhwanazi’s testimony resumed on Monday after a five-hour delay caused by concerns over his supplementary statement. The committee had requested a closed session to address the issue before continuing.

Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane said members had valid concerns about the quality of the initial statement. “The quality had to be enhanced to meet the standards the committee has set,” he explained.

After consultations between Arendse and Mkhwanazi, the revised statement was accepted. “We have amended the statement, principally by deleting reference to the initial supplementary statement and also paragraph 8,” Arendse confirmed.

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The amendment was welcomed by all parties. ANC MP Khusela Sangoni-Diko said, “The ANC is satisfied the issue of defects seems to be cured.”

MK Party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo added, “We can’t postpone any further. South Africans want to hear General Mkhwanazi testify. The work of the committee must start now.”

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