Suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu on Wednesday said he is “baffled” why his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) made some in the police top brass link him to drug cartels.

Responding to questions, Mchunu said he was wondering why National Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made such a serious allegation during their testimonies in the inquiry probing allegations of corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system.

“It is something I am still baffled about that I am associated with drug cartels. Now, I am saying there is no drug cartel that I am linked to. There is none, and I never acted in support, directly or indirectly, of any drug cartel in South Africa. It never happened,” he said.

Mchunu was responding to questions from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who asked why he would believe the two most senior police officials would make such a serious allegation about him.

He said before Mkhwanazi’s explosive briefing on July 6, the Crime Intelligence had briefed him about cartels involving drugs and firearms, and that it turned out there was no “Big Five” other than other cartels.

“I want to say I am not linked to any. Why the two would have come here and say I am linked, I don’t know why, but I am yet to hear what they are basing it on,” Mchunu said.

This took place moments after Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls backed Mchunu for his decision to disband the PKTT after he found it added no value in the SAPS, other than a high budget not intended for investigation.

“I have come to a conclusion, based on the evidence, that what you have written in your directive was correct, not just futuristic,” Sauls said.

Sauls said he was not convinced by Mchunu’s testimony on Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Brown Mogotsi.

“Your testimony there is very questionable. I am not convinced by it,” he said before urging Mchunu not to worry about his position and the public opinion.

Earlier, James noted that the minister has repeatedly criticised the PKTT of working in KwaZulu-Natal, yet he unilaterally took a decision on New Year’s Eve on the task team without consultation.

In his response, Mchunu disagreed, saying he had made clear his views at meetings with top police brass that there was a need to review the PKTT, and Masemola had spoken along the same line.

He also said there was even a memorandum as early as 2024-25 that was implemented in line with a new organogram that was signed this year by the national commissioner, which would have made it unnecessary for the PKTT to exist.

However, James said Masemola and Mkhwanazi testified that Mchunu had disbanded the PKTT after mistaking it for the unit that was investigating drug cartels in Gauteng.

“I deny that very strongly,” he said.

When James then asked Mchunu if he knew his “comrade” Mogotsi was linked to the attempted murder-accused tenderpreneur Matlala, the minister said it looked like the pair were close, according to testimony at the Madlanga Commission.

Mchunu again confirmed, as he did on Tuesday, that he knew Mogotsi but distanced himself from Matlala.

He said he was unaware of other persons Mogotsi was linked to in his own time.

“I was not aware, I never asked who else you speak to, what else you do what with. I have never asked him that question.”

Mchunu said he was concerned about the links between Matlala and Mogotsi.

“But I am saying I have never spoken to Matlala, and we have never met in person. It has never happened.”

He insisted that there was no basis to link him to Matlala, who deposed for him an affidavit for the parliamentary inquiry from C-Max prison.

“It is an accusation and that is partly what I am dealing with here.”

Mchunu also said him speaking to Brown did not automatically mean he spoke to the people his “comrade” knew.

James let the cat out of the bag when he stated that Bheki Cele, who will take the stand on Thursday, would testify that he was told by Matlala that Mogotsi and Mchunu met the tenderpreneur to discuss his campaign for the ANC presidency.

In his response, Mchunu said it would be a lie.

“It will be a lie if it were to happen even without me asking for evidence because I know that has never happened,” he said.

This prompted James to enquire whether Mchunu would resign in the best interest of South Africans and restore public trust.

“I do not know what you are talking about. We are in the Ad Hoc Committee.  We are dealing with the problems that we are dealing with at the moment. What you are introducing, I can’t answer.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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