Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale will appear before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Tuesday. The committee is investigating claims made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner previously alleged political interference and corruption within the police. This sparked a wide-ranging inquiry that has heard from several key figures.
The upcoming session with Mathale is expected to add another layer to the complex web of claims and counter-claims. The focus on these allegations has shaken the foundations of police leadership.
The inquiry stems from Mkhwanazi’s public statements in which he accused senior officials of meddling in police operations. One major point of contention was the disbandment of the KZN political killings task team.
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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, now on special leave, was accused of dismantling the unit to protect criminals. Mchunu has denied this. He told the committee he briefed President Cyril Ramaphosa on the decision.
The committee has heard contradictory and dramatic evidence. Mkhwanazi initially accused former police minister Bheki Cele of receiving suspicious money. He later retracted this claim via a text message. This drew criticism from MPs, who demanded a formal apology. Cele, for his part, told the committee he had not forgiven Mkhwanazi for the error.
Image: Cassel Mathale [Credit: Foto24 / Lisa Hnatowicz/ Gallo Images]
