Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has defended his choice to disband the special task team investigating political killings. Appearing before a parliamentary committee, Mchunu stated the move was needed to use police resources more effectively across South Africa.
He argued that the unit, which focused on KwaZulu-Natal, could not address the high rates of violent crime in other parts of the country.
“I was not ‘just itching’ to disband the task team,” Mchunu said. He explained that the team was not set up to handle the majority of murders in South Africa. He pointed to ongoing violence in places like the Cape Flats as an example of why a national approach is needed.
Mchunu referenced a study showing that most murders are linked to organized crime and taxi violence, not politics. He said this data guided his decision to redistribute resources.
The minister also addressed broader security concerns, including border control. He mentioned the murder of a young girl by an undocumented migrant, saying it highlighted the need for better management of the country’s borders.
Mchunu denied a claim by KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that he may not have written the letter to disband the team. Mchunu insisted he was the author.
His suspension is part of a series of recent suspensions of high-level officials in South Africa’s security and justice departments. A minister has assured the public that intelligence services remain fully operational despite these changes.
Experts have mixed views on the suspensions. Some see it as a positive step toward accountability, while others warn it could threaten stability if not handled quickly.
The parliamentary committee’s investigation is ongoing.