Former Police minister Bheki Cele taken aback by disbandment of Political Killings Task Team
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele firmly stated that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was never disbanded during his tenure, only to be dissolved by his successor, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Cele, who served as Police Minister from February 2018 to June 2024 and had overseen the PKTT operations for much of his time in office, is giving his testimony before the Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating political interference in police operations.
The PKTT, an inter-ministerial task team set up to tackle politically motivated murders, was officially disbanded on December 31, 2024, by Mchunu.
When asked if he knew that the PKTT had been disbanded, Cele expressed surprise, recalling the task team’s origins and continued operation under multiple administrations.
“The President called ministers, and those ministers then created an inter-ministerial task team which established the PKTT.”
“We brought relevant departments together to ensure all components collaborated effectively. The team started its work and continued through the end of the fifth administration into the sixth,” Cele explained.
He further noted that the team remained active until March 2024.
“If I’m not mistaken, on March 7, 2024, the same team briefed the President about their activities in Fort Hare after he requested a review of certain matters. This was just two months before the May 2024 election, and the team was still active then.”
Cele criticised the disbanding of the PKTT, questioning the decision’s procedural correctness.
“You cannot swallow that as a police minister without consulting all others involved. I’m not a lawyer, but the procedure, as it happened, is not right. It should have been reversed properly — that would be my approach.”
Regarding the involvement of other government branches, Cele highlighted the role of the Justice Ministry and inter-ministerial cooperation.
“Any incoming minister joining the inter-ministerial committee starts with a handover. It took me two hours with my successor. Even the Minister of Justice is part of this IMC, so it should also be part of their responsibilities.”
In contrast, Minister Mchunu told ANC MP Khusela Diko during the same parliamentary session that Cele did not receive formal handover notes on the PKTT.
“Not as I read it. What was there was a reference to committees the minister was serving on, not necessarily the PKTT in any form,” Mchunu said.
When pressed on why Cele himself had not disbanded the PKTT, Mchunu replied, “Not really. We didn’t delve into that matter.”
Mchunu defended his decision to disband the task team, arguing that it had ceased to add value and had become a financial burden to taxpayers.
The parliamentary inquiry into political interference in the police continues to illuminate the contentious history and operations of the PKTT, raising questions about inter-ministerial coordination and oversight in politically sensitive police work.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
IOL Politics