National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has told Members of Parliament (MPs) that the now-suspended Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, ordered the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) while it was actively investigating high-profile cases linked to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and several
Masemola, who was appearing before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police this week, said the abrupt disbandment of the specialized task team “came as a shock” to law enforcement officials who had been closing in on suspects implicated in corruption, fraud, murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking.
He revealed that at the time of its dissolution, the PKTT had made significant progress on multiple investigations, some of which allegedly implicated Matlala and his associates in serious criminal activities. “The task team had gathered enough evidence to pursue arrests and prosecutions. Unfortunately, before we could proceed further, the instruction came from the minister to shut it down,” Masemola reportedly told MPs.
According to the commissioner, the PKTT was one of the SAPS’s most productive specialized units, established to tackle politically motivated killings and organized criminal networks believed to be operating under political protection. “We had built momentum and were beginning to see results. The timing of its disbandment raised many questions within the service,” Masemola added.
Several MPs expressed concern that the minister’s decision may have undermined ongoing investigations and compromised justice in politically sensitive cases. Some members demanded that Parliament summon Mchunu to explain his reasons for disbanding the task team, especially given the gravity of the allegations surrounding those under investigation.
The disbandment of the PKTT has sparked public outrage, with civil society groups calling for an independent probe into possible interference in police operations. Many believe that shutting down the task team benefited certain individuals who may have feared imminent arrest.
Masemola assured the committee that efforts were underway to reconstitute the team and ensure continuity in the affected investigations. “We will not allow criminal networks to escape accountability because of administrative decisions,” he said firmly.
Neither Mchunu nor Matlala has publicly responded to the claims. However, sources within the police suggest that the developments have caused deep divisions within the SAPS leadership, with questions now being raised about political influence over critical law enforcement operations.