Masemola expected to address claims Presidency interfered in policing matters

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is expected to address claims the Presidency interfered in policing matters when he starts his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday morning.

Masemola will be the second witness to appear before the commission, sitting at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.

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KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Nhalnhla Mkhwanazi was the first to testify last week, where he painted a picture of an ailing police force, influenced by political agendas to the benefit of private companies and businesspeople.

Last week, Mkhwanazi alleged that Masemola was not aware of a decision to disband the political killings task team, following a letter issued by Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu in December.

Mkhwanazi claimed that Masemola and Mchunu were in KZN just days before the instruction was issued, and neither of them discussed the pending decision with him.

But senior police sources previously told EWN that Masemola was aware of Mchunu’s decision to disband the task team prior to the letter being issued on 31 December.

Masemola is also likely to address allegations that police were deployed to privately owned minerals giant Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) at the behest of the Presidency after the company’s executives received serious threats.

“So RBM had a privilege of getting a SAPS [South African Police Service] deployment to service only them, which was funded at the national office. I’m sure the management of the police will come to explain what informed this and the cost that was spent on it.”

Mkhwanazi alleged Masemola received a call from the Presidency to redeploy a task team of detectives back to RBM after he recalled them following a year of investigations without much success.