Mchunu had no authority to disband KZN Political Task Team, inquiry told

By Johnathan Paoli

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu overstepped his constitutional powers when he ordered the disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

This was the evidence of Major-General Petronella van Rooyen, head of governance in the SAPS legal services division, testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Thursday.

“The minister’s role is to formulate policy, not to intervene in operational matters. Disbanding the PKTT was an operational issue, and therefore the instruction was unlawful,” she testified.

Van Rooyen cited Section 207 of the Constitution, which gives the national commissioner operational control of the police. 

Her testimony echoed that of National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola earlier in the week, who stressed that while the minister may set priorities and guide policy, he cannot interfere in operational decisions such as creating or disbanding investigative teams.

Masemola said Mchunu’s directive blurred constitutional boundaries, insisting that decisions about personnel,