President Cyril Ramaphosa insists the disbanded political killings task team in KwaZulu-Natal has done “tremendous work” over the years, despite claims from police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that the team’s dissolution derailed more than 100 active murder cases.

“The political task team on the killings in KZN has been doing its work and has done tremendous work,” Ramaphosa said on Friday during a high-level meeting with the Northern Cape Provincial Executive.

“The killings then started coming down in KZN, the political killings. So the complaints that have been raised by the KZN police commissioner have to be investigated.”

Mkhwanazi has accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who was recently placed on special leave, of political interference and protecting criminals. 

He alleged that Mchunu disbanded the task team in March, effectively closing 121 active dockets, many of which are tied to politically motivated assassinations.

He said the cases were stored in the office of Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, who has also been placed on leave.

Mkhwanazi said since its formation in 2018, the task team has handled 612 cases and secured more than 100 convictions. 

He said efforts to shut down the unit escalated after weapons linked to high-profile assassinations were uncovered.

The top cop described the disbandment as “a calculated move to shield a criminal syndicate embedded in law enforcement and politics.”

In a December 2024 letter to National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, Mchunu claimed the unit had “outlived its usefulness.” However, Masemola later denied authorising the closure.

Mkhwanazi also alleged that investigations exposed links between criminal syndicates and politicians, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges, and businesspeople.

He also implicated Mchunu’s “comrade,” Brown Mogotsi, in communicating with businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who had received a now-cancelled R360 million SAPS contract.

Ramaphosa has since announced the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the corruption allegations. The commission will be led by Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

“Those have to be investigated, and that is why I set up the commission. I expect that this commission, whose terms of reference are now out, will work very quickly,” he said.

Ramaphosa said the commission is expected to deliver an initial report within three months and a final report within six months. 

He added that if more time is needed, he will consult with Madlanga.

“This is a commission that everyone in the country would like to see quick answers coming from,” he said.

The commission has now been officially gazetted and will focus on alleged political interference, criminal syndicates operating within law enforcement, and deep-rooted corruption in the province.

Meanwhile, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has filed a no-confidence motion against Ramaphosa regarding his choice to retain Police Mchunu rather than dismissing him. 

Instead, Mchunu has been placed on leave while a judicial commission of inquiry is set up.

As a result, the party has taken its case to the Constitutional Court to contest President Ramaphosa’s decision to put Mchunu on special leave, as well as the subsequent appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting Police Minister.

The party is requesting an urgent Parliament session to convene within the next two weeks to discuss and vote on the motion.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL Politics

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