Madlanga Commission left baffled by some of Masemola's contradictory statements

National police commissioner, Fannie Masemola, has had holes poked in his testimony, as his contradictory statements left members of the Madlanga Commission baffled.

Masemola concluded his testimony for the day at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which is sitting at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria on Monday.

But it was his stance on the instruction to disband the political killings task team, issued by police minister, Senzo Mchunu, in December, that left the commissioners questioning how he processed the instruction.

Very early in his testimony, Masemola emphasised that he wouldn’t comply with an instruction from Mchunu if he deemed it unlawful, such as the directive to immediately disband the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team.

But later, Masemola confirmed that he complied with Mchunu’s directive to provide a progress report into the disbandment of the team.

"I had no alternative left but to say, if ever it has to go in way of disbandment, I’m giving in, but not in his approach, but in my approach."

Commission chair, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, was confused by Masemola’ fence-sitting approach of providing a progress report on the winding down of functions of the task team.

"Now you say in so many words that this was unlawful. Unlawful why? Because it strayed onto your area of function. So why do you now suddenly talk the language of winding down, in a phased manner."

Masemola will conclude his testimony on Tuesday morning.

ALSO READ:

• Masemola highlights political killings task team achievements, says Mchunu had no basis to disband it

• Masemola: Mchunu encroached on mandate of national commissioner with his decision to disband political killings task team

• LIVE BLOG | Madlanga Commission: National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola

• Masemola outlines his responsibility versus that of Police Minister

• Mkhwanazi reaffirms allegiance to Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo

• Mkhwanazi alleges ex-police minister Nathi Mthethwa forced former intelligence head to withdraw criminal case against Richard Mdluli