Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has admitted he broke protocol when he disbanded the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) without consulting police leadership.
Mchunu made the admission while testifying at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria. The commission is investigating allegations of high-level police misconduct.
On Thursday, 4 December 2025, Mchunu conceded he acted without a briefing from National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola. Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the commission’s chairperson, questioned Mchunu intensely.
The minister issued the directive for the disbandment of the PKTT on 31 December 2024. This decision has been highly controversial. It is seen as a key factor leading to an explosive briefing by KwaZulu-Natal Police Boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July.
Mkhwanazi alleged that top officials were obstructing justice. He claimed the PKTT was shut down to protect politically connected individuals under investigation.
Justifications and scrutiny
Mchunu defended his decision before the commission. He argued that the PKTT was never meant to be a permanent structure. He stated it was an interim project established in 2018.
Mchunu also cited concerns over the unit’s budget. He claimed its expenditure was disproportionate to the number of cases it handled. He told the commission it was not fair to devote such large resources to one category of killings.
However, Justice Madlanga challenged these justifications. He noted that the PKTT had been consistently praised for its work. He questioned why Mchunu did not compare its costs to other task teams. The minister admitted he had not.
The idea to disband the unit came to him during a period of reflection between 29 and 31 December 2024. This was just days after he had been with Commissioner Masemola but failed to raise the issue.
Image: Suspended Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, told the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday that he is not corrupt. Credit: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
