Mchunu unauthorised to disband political killings team: Mkhwanazi


KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says he was surprised when he saw a letter confirming the disbandment of the provincial Political Killings Task Team, signed off by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Mchunu is currently on leave of absence.

Mkhwanazi says the letter was shown to him on the 2nd of January this year by a person who is not in the police force.

The Political Killings Task Team, which was disbanded at the end of December last year, is at the center of the Madlanga Commission Inquiry under way in Pretoria.

Mkhwanazi says Mchunu was not authorised to disband the team.

“The families of the victims of crime who needed closure were going to be affected by this letter. That is why I was surprised because getting it from a private person who is not involved in police operation was a surprise.”

Mkhwanazi has also detailed how the task team was asked to intervene in the Fort Hare University murder cases.

He says the task team was requested to intervene in the murder cases because of its unmatched success rate.

“So, in this case, I did indicate how the team landed in the Eastern Cape, specifically at University of Forte. That’s why you see the total number of cases that the team has been dealing with at Fort Hare University, 18 in total, which was mainly also attempted murders as a result of corruption within the university.”