Mchunu Not the Author of PKTT Letter
KZN Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has accused certain political factions of undermining efforts to tackle political killings, alleging that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was not the genuine author of the letter that disbanded the specialized task force investigating these cases.
While providing testimony to Parliament’s ad-hoc committee examining corruption in the criminal justice system on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi stated, “I don’t believe Minister Mchunu wrote that letter. Someone made him sign it.”
“If the minister were truthful, he would admit that someone forced him to sign this; I did not write it myself… should he claim it was his own doing here, there will be consequences.”
The letter, signed by Mchunu and dated December 2024, was aimed at the National Commissioner, Gen. Fannie Masemola, instructing the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Mchunu asserted that the PKTT held “no value,” but investigations indicated that this action was intended to shield criminals.
However, Mkhwanazi contended that there was a lack of consultation, briefing, and rationale for the decision — merely backdoor political maneuvering.
He emphasized that the letter had been drafted outside their discussions and refuted claims of prior briefings.
Mkhwanazi pointed to Mchunu’s chief of staff, [Cedrick] Nkabinde, as a potential intermediary: “Nkabinde informed me that the letter was undergoing multiple revisions. This suggested to me that it was formulated by others — not the minister himself.”
Both Mkhwanazi and Masemola suspect that the move aimed to protect the politically connected murder suspect Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who was apprehended just before the PKTT was dismantled.
This was addressed in their testimonies to the Madlanga Commission.
Matlala is reportedly linked to senior police officer General Shadrack Sibiya and Brown Mogotsi, both of whom have alleged connections to Mchunu.
Alarmingly, Mkhwanazi revealed instances of junior officers conspiring with politicians to sway police leadership.
“You may find Sibiya sending a WhatsApp message to the deputy minister. I don’t know who the deputy minister is,” he remarked.
The commissioner noted that he was continuing his investigation into the matter.
The PKTT was established to combat politically motivated assassinations in KZN, a region long marred by corruption and violence.
Its abrupt dissolution has now become emblematic of the profound decay within the state.
As Parliament conducts its investigation, scrutiny falls on who is truly orchestrating these actions — and the extent of the cover-up.
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