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

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has highlighted the achievements of the political killings task team since its inception.

Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday, Masemola questioned the motive behind Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s decision to disband the unit.

He revealed that between 2018 and February this year, the task team handled 612 case dockets, of which 297 were finalised.

Masemola maintained that these figures demonstrate a strong record of success.

"There was nothing negative that happened with the task team that might have changed opinions. The task team kept on doing good work all the way."

Section 207 of the Constitution states that the national police commissioner must exercise control in accordance with the direction of the minister of police.

Masemola said that given the task team’s record of success, Mchunu had no legal basis to issue an instruction for the disbandment of the unit.

"To go further and ask me to disband [the political killings task team] and further say I must do it immediately, I think that’s encroachment into the mandate of the national commissioner in terms of the performance of my duties."

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