By Staff Reporter
The Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, known as the Madlanga Commission, resumes on Thursday, expected to receive expert testimony regarding the legislative framework that governs the South African Police Service.
The head of the SAPS legal division, Major-General Petronella van Rooyen, is currently testifying on the legislative framework governing the SAPS at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System (Madlanga Commission), which began its work on September 17, 2025.
This week, the Madlanga Commission heard how Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was visibly angry when the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) took on new cases despite his instruction to wind down, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday.
Masemola said he found it “strange” that a minister would react with anger to police success.
“It was the first time in my career that I saw a minister angry because police had done a good job,” he testified.
“The meeting ended abruptly. He said he would only talk to me, not to Khumalo and the rest. What surprised me was exactly that … how could one be angry when police did what they are supposed to do?”
Masemola added that Mchunu had questioned the need for the PKTT, claiming President Cyril Ramaphosa had agreed it should be disbanded.
“At some point during the meeting, Minister Senzo Mchunu stated that he did not understand why we were so adamant that the PKTT must not be disbanded, and he said President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed that the team must be disbanded,” Masemola testified.
“When I briefed the Presidency on 1 February 2025, the President was taken aback and said he would speak to Minister Mchunu.”
Masemola accused Mchunu of undermining police operations, noting that the attempted disbandment left more than 120 dockets untouched.
The PKTT, originally set up to tackle political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, was later given an expanded mandate covering cases in the Eastern Cape and syndicate-related murders in Gauteng.
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