SAPS Commissioner General Fannie Masemola defended his response to Minister Senzo Mchunu’s directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), claiming he eventually uncovered the minister’s motives.

Responding to questions in the parliamentary inquiry on his second day testimony on Friday, Masemola said he had for quite a number of times asked Mchunu why he was closing the team and he just gave no reasons.

Asked by ActionSA MP Dereleen James whether the directive was unlawful, Masemola said it was up to the committee to decide whether it was unlawful or not.

“I interpreted it to say, I think, he is going beyond his scope and hence I did emphasise what are the reasons for closing down the team. The directive was not a request. It was a direct instruction,” he said.

However, James suggested that the national commissioner gave in to the minister by not standing up to him, instead preferred the winding down of the PKTT.

 In his response, Masemola said the task team was never closed.

“It is operational up to this day. I did everything I could. There was no door I did not go to. I engaged him several times, but he closed the door,” he said.

Mkhwanazi also said he had raised the matter in a meeting in on January 16 and Mchunu merely told him they would discuss it on the date when he was to submit a plan for the disbandment of the PKTT.

“He shut the door and said there is a due date to submit the report.”

Masemola said he had told Mchunu at another meeting with other senior management staff on March 6 that he did not see reason the task team should have been disbanded.

“On this day I did I come with an alternative because this directive looked very suspicious and I came with a strategy of winding down. Eventually, we ended up finding out the reasons,” he said.

Masemola noted that the directive was leaked to the media on December 31 and MPs and everyone else saw it.

“Those that had an interest in political killings should have seen something was wrong,” he said.

According to Masemola, had it been task team probing farm murders, farming organisations and association would have stood up and raised their concerns.

“But with this one to all analysts that are best in analysing, including members of this House it was okay. I did the best I could alone and I tried my best but if I have to be blamed today, I accept it,” he added.

The national commissioner maintained that the PKTT still exists. 

“It is still working. Never mind, yes, I might have done it differently. Anyone would have an opinion on how best you could have handled it but I handled my way,” he said.

“Eventually, I was able to pick up the reason why the minister is doing this. The team is there and is functioning,” Masemola added.

Asked if Mchunu should be arrested, he said he could not express opinion on that.

“There is a case that is being investigated. I think you heard from General Mkhwanazi when he was here that there is a case that is being investigated and one can’t comment on a case that is under investigation,” said Masemola.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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