Lies and contradictions over political task team shutdown expose cracks in SAPS top brass

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has denied issuing any directive to disband the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team, directly contradicting claims made by his deputy, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.

At a media briefing on Wednesday, Masemola stated: “You have not seen any letter that I have signed to close the unit. I have not signed it, and I don’t think anybody has ever seen a letter where I have signed off on the closure of the unit.”

Sibiya, in an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Sunday, alleged that Masemola had instructed him to shut down the team. He also accused KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of defying an instruction from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu regarding the matter.

Adding weight to the controversy, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula claimed this week that the party had been informed of the task team's closure and confirmed that it had, in fact, been disbanded.

The political killings task team was reportedly disbanded late last year after Mchunu issued a directive to Masemola, arguing that the unit had fulfilled its mandate. The disbandment took effect immediately and was officially announced in January.

Over the weekend, Mkhwanazi made explosive claims that the disbandment came after the task team uncovered a criminal syndicate operating within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

He alleged that the network includes high-ranking politicians, senior police officials, businesspeople, members of the prosecuting authority and even elements within the judiciary.

Masemola, while distancing himself from the closure decision, confirmed that he is legally bound to implement policy directives from the minister. He is expected to brief President Cyril Ramaphosa on the matter in due course.

There have since been growing calls for Ramaphosa to act against Mchunu, while others have urged Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka to launch an independent investigation into the disbandment and the syndicate allegations.

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