Police Minister Senzo Mchunu Accused of Overreach as Masemola Testifies at Madlanga Commission

PRETORIA, 22 September 2025 -National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of encroaching on his operational authority by disbanding the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), a decision he argues fell outside the minister’s powers. Masemola made the claims on Monday during his second day of testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is probing allegations of political interference and corruption within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

READ: Fannie Masemola to Testify at Madlanga Commission as SAPS Corruption Claims Deepen

Drawing the Line Between Policy and Operations

In his testimony, Masemola outlined a clear distinction between the roles of the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner.

• Ministers, he said, provide policy and strategic direction.
• The Commissioner, however, oversees day-to-day operations and implementation.

Masemola argued that while ministers may set priorities — such as focusing on cash-in-transit robberies — it is the operational head of SAPS who decides how to deliver on those objectives.

By disbanding the PKTT without consultation, Mchunu allegedly strayed into operational territory.

READ: General Mkhwanazi Accuses Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of Political Interference

Political Killings Task Team Debate

The PKTT was established in response to persistent political violence in KwaZulu-Natal. According to Masemola, the unit delivered tangible results, particularly in reviving “stubborn” cases that had stalled for years. While acknowledging that fewer than half of the team’s 612 dockets resulted in convictions, Masemola insisted the unit was effective enough to warrant continued funding.

“Whenever this team was placed in those stubborn cases, you would see quick success,” Masemola told the Commission.

He stressed that if proper consultation had taken place, Mchunu might have been persuaded not to shut the team down.

Ministerial Instructions and Career Risks

Retired Justice Mbuyiseni Madlanga, chairing the inquiry, pressed Masemola on whether he would obey a ministerial instruction that clearly fell outside the minister’s remit. At first hesitant, Masemola eventually conceded:

“If it is very clear that [the matter] is not his, then I will not obey it. I will not do it. That one, straightforward, no.”

However, he also admitted that refusing ministerial instructions can be “career-limiting”, hinting at the political pressure SAPS leaders face when trying to safeguard operational independence.

READ: Political Killings Task Team Collapsed Due to Resource Gaps, Says Masemola

Allegations of Corruption and Hearsay Evidence

Masemola also touched on allegations of corruption in the judiciary, including suspicions that magistrates may have colluded with organised crime syndicates. However, he conceded that much of this information amounted to hearsay evidence, echoing earlier testimony from KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. These claims remain under investigation, with the Commission expected to test the credibility of such allegations in coming sessions.

What’s Next

Masemola is expected to testify for at least two days, with further evidence focusing on two senior figures facing charges linked to an alleged drug cartel uncovered by the PKTT in Gauteng.

The Commission continues to probe the intersection of politics, policing, and organised crime, with Masemola’s testimony underscoring the deep tensions between SAPS leadership and political oversight.