Newly surfaced documents given directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa have exposed serious concerns among senior police officials about the South African Police Service (SAPS) task team assigned to address the country’s ongoing political killings.
Sources familiar with the documents say they highlight major issues within the team, including internal conflicts, lack of resources, and claims of political interference. The task team was initially created to target hitmen and those behind politically motivated murders but is now struggling with operational challenges.
South Africa, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, has faced years of deadly political violence, with numerous councillors, activists, and whistleblowers killed over the past decade. Despite government promises to curb the violence, critics say little progress has been made, with few convictions despite high-profile arrests and task force announcements.
The documents reportedly warn that investigations are often compromised by leaks to suspects, poorly coordinated operations, and conflicting messages from political figures who may benefit from ongoing violence. Some officers fear the team could become ineffective without urgent changes, serving more as a public relations effort than a real solution.
A senior police official, speaking anonymously, described morale within the unit as extremely low. “We have skilled detectives, but they face intimidation, internal obstacles, and a lack of support. The hitmen aren’t afraid of this task team—they monitor it,” the source said.
Ramaphosa, who has called political killings a danger to democracy, has reportedly received the documents and requested a full briefing from Police Minister Bheki Cele. While Cele has previously defended the team’s work, he now faces fresh scrutiny over whether enough has been done to protect witnesses, prevent political interference, and ensure independent investigations.
Civil society groups are using these revelations to push for a complete restructuring of the task team and more transparency in stalled high-profile murder cases.
With elections approaching, communities affected by political violence will be watching to see if these internal warnings lead to real change—or if the killings will continue to threaten South Africa’s democracy.