By Johnathan Paoli
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola took the stand at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday, where he mounted a strong defence of the South African Police Service’s operational independence and questioned former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Masemola, who joined the SAPS in 1987 and has spent 38 of his 60 years in uniform, was pressed by Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga on the limits of his accountability to the Minister of Police.
Citing Section 207(2) of the Constitution, which requires the National Commissioner to manage the police “in accordance with national policy and the directions of the cabinet member responsible for policing,” Madlanga asked whether Masemola would obey an instruction from the minister if it lacked a legal basis.
“Although such a refusal could be career-limiting, I would not comply if the order strayed into operational matters. It depends on the context, but if it is unlawful or undermines the commissioner’s mandate, I cannot act on it,” Masemola said.
The exchange went to the heart of the current inquiry, triggered by allegations from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that political interference, corruption, and links to organized crime had undermined policing at the highest levels, and that this is why the PKTT was disbanded.
Initially funded by KZN SAPS at R49 million, the PKTT was established in 2018 to investigate political killings in the province. It later extended its mandate to the Free State, Eastern Cape, and even the University of Fort Hare, following a spate of murders linked to political and traditional leadership disputes.
Masemola highlighted the team’s record of 612 dockets investigated by February 2025. Of these, 297 were finalised, 117 withdrawn, 125 remained active, and 10 were awaiting National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decisions.
“We measure success in terms of cases where the team secured convictions,” Masemola told the commission.
He said that the PKTT was making significant headway, citing breakthroughs in the Fort Hare cases and the exposure of corrupt practices such as councillors faking assassination plots to qualify for municipal body guarding.
“The task team kept on doing good work all the way,” he said.
As for Mchunu’s order to disband the task team because it was not effective, made in a letter date 31 December 2024, Masemola said the minister overstepped his authority.
“The narrative that the PKTT was ineffective is false. If the minister had made himself available for a briefing, he wouldn’t have disbanded the team,” Masemola said.
He stressed that while the minister could raise concerns, the operational decision to deploy or disband a unit lay solely with him as commissioner.
Masemola’s evidence followed a dramatic week of testimony last week from Mkhwanazi, who alleged that the disbandment was politically motivated and aimed at shielding powerful figures implicated in criminal networks.
Mkhwanazi defended embattled Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo, claiming fraud charges against him were fabricated to derail investigations into drug cartels and high-profile murders in Gauteng.
He further implicated MPs Fadiel Adams and Dianne Kohler Barnard, accusing them of mishandling confidential intelligence and contributing to Khumalo’s arrest.
Both parliamentarians have denied wrongdoing and are expected to respond at the commission.
Justice Madlanga signalled that the inquiry would test not only the legality of ministerial directives but also the balance of accountability between political oversight and operational independence.
The commission continues.
INSIDE POLITICS