A parliamentary ad hoc committee has moved forward in probing explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, with several top-ranking officials now set to appear before it. Among those summoned are former Police Minister Bheki Cele, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
The committee, chaired by Soviet Lekganyane, formally adopted its terms of reference on August 22, a move described as critical in charting the way forward in addressing claims of corruption and political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Mkhwanazi’s revelations, made during a press briefing on July 6, shook both the law enforcement community and political establishment. He accused Mchunu and Sibiya of being central to the controversial disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, which had been tasked with investigating politically motivated murders in KwaZulu-Natal. According to him, this move was aimed at shielding politically connected figures with ties to criminal syndicates.
He further alleged that 121 case dockets were unlawfully taken from the task team, with at least five of those cases already prepared for imminent arrests. The commissioner also pointed to links between Mchunu, Sibiya, and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, suggesting a network of protection benefiting powerful individuals.
The fallout has been immediate. Both Mchunu and Sibiya have been placed on special leave pending the outcome of the inquiry, while Masemola has distanced himself from the decision, insisting he never authorized the unit’s closure.
The hearings are expected to be contentious, as the committee grapples with allegations that strike at the heart of policing credibility in South Africa. With Cele, Mchunu, Sibiya, and Masemola due to account before Parliament, the stakes are high for both political accountability and the integrity of law enforcement institutions.
